Administration of carboline derivatives useful in the treatment of cancer and other diseases

ABSTRACT

In accordance with the present invention, compounds that inhibit the expression of VEGF post-transcriptionally have been identified, and compositions, and methods for the administration and use of those compounds. provided. In one aspect of the invention, compounds useful in the inhibition of VEGF production, in the treatment of solid tumor cancer, and in reducing serum, plasma, and/or tumor VEGF levels, are provided. In another aspect of the invention, methods are provided for the inhibition of VEGF production, the treatment of cancer, and the reduction of plasma and/or tumor VEGF levels, using the compounds of the invention.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/107,783, filed Apr. 18, 2005, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/079,420, filed Mar. 15, 2005, and having the title “Carboline Derivatives Useful in the Inhibition of Angiogenesis,” which claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/552,725, filed Mar. 15, 2004, which applications are incorporated herein by reference; this application also claims priority to International Application No. PCT/US2005/008481, filed Mar. 15, 2005, and PCT/US 2006/014547, filed on Apr. 17, 2006, which application is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to compounds for inhibiting the expression of VEGF post-transcriptionally or for inhibiting angiogenesis, and compositions, methods, and kits for the administration or use of such compounds.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Aberrant angiogenesis plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of numerous diseases, including malignant, ischemic, inflammatory and immune disorders (Carmeliet, Nat. Med., 9(6):653-60 (2003), Ferrara, Semin. Oncol., 29(6 Suppl 16):10-4 (2002)). The best-known of these disorders are cancer, exudative macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy (DR), the last two of which are leading cause of blindness in the United States (Witmer et al., Prog. Retin Eye Res., 22(1): 1-29 (2003), Clark et al., Nat. Rev. Drug Discovery, 2:448-459 (2003)). During the last decade our understanding of the molecular basis of angiogenesis has grown considerably. Numerous cytokines and growth factors that stimulate angiogenesis, such as VEGF, FGF-2, PDGF, IGF-1, TGF, TNF-α, G-CSF have been identified (Ferrara et al., Nat. Med., 5(12):1359-64 (1999), Kerbel et al., Nat. Rev. Cancer, 2(10):727-39 (2002), Rofstad et al., Cancer Res., 60(17):4932-8 (2000)). Among these growth factors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) plays a central role in angiogenesis (Ferrara, Semin. Oncol., 29(6 Suppl 16): 10-4 (2002)).

VEGF, also known as VEGF-A, was initially identified for its ability to induce vascular permeability and to promote vascular endothelial cell proliferation (Leung et al., Science, 246:1306-1309 (1989), Plouet et al., EMBO J., 8:3801-3806 (1989), Connolly et al., J. Biol. Chem., 264:20017-20024 (1989)). VEGF is encoded by a single gene that gives rise to four isoforms by alternative splicing (Tischer et al., J. Biol. Chem., 266:11947-11954 (1991)). All four isoforms share the same unusually long and GC rich 5′-UTR, as well as a 3′-UTR that includes multiple RNA stability determinants. The receptors VEGFR-2 (also known as KDR or Flk-1) and VEGFR-1 (previously known as Flt1) recognize the dimeric form of VEGF (Ortega et al., Front. Biosci., 4:D141-52 (1999), Sato et al., Annals of New York Academy of Science, 902:201-207, (2000)). The highly specific VEGFR-2 receptor is expressed on endothelial cells. VEGF binding to the VEGFR-2 receptor activates the receptor's tyrosine kinase activity, leading to endothelial cell proliferation, differentiation and primitive vessel formation (Shalaby et al., Nature, 376:62-66, (1995)). VEGFR-1 inhibits endothelial cell growth either by acting as a decoy or by suppressing signaling pathways through VEGFR-2 (Fong et al., Nature, 376:66-70 (1995)).

Over 30 years ago, it was proposed that inhibition of tumor angiogenesis could be an effective approach for the treatment of cancer (Folkman, N. Engl. J. Med., 285(21):1182-6 (1971)). VEGF and its receptor have been demonstrated to have a central role in tumor angiogenesis, especially in the early stages of tumor growth (Hanahan et al., Cell, 86:353-364, 1996)). Indeed, increased levels of VEGF expression have been correlated with microvessel density in primary tumor tissues (Gasparini et al., J. Natl. Cancer Inst., 89:139-147 (1997)). Moreover, increased levels of the VEGF transcript are found in virtually all of the common solid tumors (Ferrara et al., Endocr. Rev., 18:4-25, 1997)). In general, tumor-bearing patients have higher levels of VEGF compared to those in tumor-free individuals, and high VEGF levels in serum/plasma are associated with poor prognosis (Dirix et al., Br. J. Cancer, 76:238-243 (1997)). Consistent with the role of VEGF in tumor angiogenesis, VEGF null embryonic stem cells showed a dramatically reduced ability to form tumors in nude mice (Carmeliet et al., Nature, 380:435-439 (1996)). Direct evidence for the involvement of VEGF in tumorgenesis was demonstrated by using specific antibodies against VEGF in human xenografts implanted in nude mice (Kim et al., Nature, 362:841-844 (1993), Hichlin et al., Drug Discovery Today, 6:517-528 (2001)). In these studies, the inhibition of tumor growth correlated positively with decreased vessel formation in the antibody-treated tumors. Subsequent experiments using the soluble receptors substantiated the importance of VEGF activity in tumor growth (Lin et al., Cell Growth Difer., 9(1):49-58 (1998)), and demonstrated that inactivation of VEGF by specific antibody treatment directly resulted in a nearly complete suppression of tumor-associated neovascularization (Borgstrom et al., Prostate, 35:1-10 (1998), Yuan et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 93:14765-14770 (1996)).

In exudative macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy, pre-clinical experiments and clinical trials have demonstrated that over production of VEGF is critical for aberrant retinal or choroidal neovascularization (reviewed in Witmer et al., Prog. Retin Eye Res., 22(1):1-29 (2003)). Evidence has been obtained that intra-ocular VEGF levels are strongly correlated with active retinal/choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in patients with diseases such as diabetic retinopathy and wet form macular degeneration (Funatsu et al., Am. J. Opthalmol., 133(4):537-43 (2002), Lip et al., Opthalmology, 108(4):705-10 (2001)). In addition, studies using transgenic mice demonstrated that overexpression of VEGF in retinal pigment epithelial cells or photoreceptor cells results in choroidal or retinal neovasucularization (Schwesinger et al., Am. J. Pathol., 158(3):1161-72 (2001), Ohno-Matsui et al., Am. J. Pathol., 160(2):711-9 (2002)). In recent studies neutralizing antibodies, soluble receptor, receptor antagonists, or siRNA have proven efficacious in reducing VEGF-mediated blood vessel formation in animal models and in the clinic. (Eyetech Study Group, 22(2):143-52 (2002), Krzystolik et al., Arch. Opthalmol., 120(3):338-46 (2002), Shen et al., Lab Invest., 82(2):167-82 (2002), Honda et al., Gene Ther., 7(11):978-85 (2000), Saishin et al., J. Cell Physiol., 195(2):241-8 (2003)).

VEGF expression is regulated by a number of factors and agents including cytokines, growth factors, steroid hormones and chemicals, and mutations that modulate the activity of oncogenes such as ras or the tumor suppressor gene VHL (Maxwell et al., Nature, 399:271-275 (1999), Rak et al., Cancer Res., 60:490-498 (2000)). Nevertheless, hypoxia is the most significant physiologic signal for regulating VEGF expression. Hypoxia results in enhanced VEGF expression by increasing both the transcription rate and stability of the VEGF transcript (Ikeda et al., J. Biol. Chem. 270:19761-19766 (1995), Stein et al., Mol. Cell. Biol. 18:3112-3119 (1998), Levy et al., J. Biol. Chem. 271:2746-2753 (1996)). Hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1αa) is a transcription factor that increases VEGF gene expression in cells undergoing hypoxia by binding to the hypoxia response element (HRE) located in the VEGF promoter (Liu et al., Circ. Res., 77:638-643 (1995), Semenza, Annu. Rev. Cell. Dev. Biol., 5:551-578 (1999)). Both the stability and translation efficiency of the VEGF transcript is influenced by sequences in the 5′- and 3′-untranslated regions (UTRs). The 5′-UTR contains an internal ribosomal entry site (IRES) and mediates cap-independent translation initiation while the 3′-UTR harbors multiple AU-rich (AUR) stability determinants that have been previously shown to regulate turnover of VEGF mRNA. In addition, the translation initiation of the VEGF transcript is uniquely regulated. Under hypoxic conditions, translation of most cellular transcripts mediated by cap-dependent translation initiation process is greatly impaired (Kraggerud et al., Anticancer Res., 15:683-686 (1995)). Initiation of translation of the VEGF mRNA, however, is unique under hypoxic conditions in that it is mediated via an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) within the VEGF 5′UTR (Stein et al., Mol. Cell. Biol. 18:3112-3119 (1998), Levy et al., J. Biol. Chem. 271:2746-2753 (1996), Huez et al., Mol. Cell. Biol., 18:6178-6190 (1998), Akiri et al., Oncogene, 17:227-236 (1998)). Thus, this form of post-transciptional regulation permits cells to produce large amounts of VEGF protein to support either further tumor growth or aberrant neovascularization in ocular diseases under hypoxic conditions. The stability of VEGF mRNA is also greatly enhanced as a consequence of the binding of factors to elements in the 3′-UTR (Goldberg et al., J. Biol. Cell. J. Biol. Chem., 277(16):13635-40 (2002)).

There is a large body of experimental evidence indicating that tumor growth can be inhibited by the prevention of neovascularization (Lin et al., Cell Growth Differ., 9(1):49-58 (1998), Zhu et al., Invest. New Drugs, 17:195-212 (1999)). Tumor vessels are generally immature and constantly undergo remodeling (Carmeliet, Nat. Med., 9(6):653-60 (2003), Carmeliet et al., Nature, 407:249-257 (2000)). Active and aberrant angiogenesis is the result of a disruption in the normal balance of proangiogenic and anti-angiogenic factors, including various cytokines, growth factors and steroid hormones. Despite the complexity of the regulation of tumor angiogenesis, accumulated evidence indicates that targeting a single proangiogenic factor might be sufficient to inhibit tumor angiogenesis and suppress tumor growth (Kim et al., Nature, 362:841-844 (1993), Millauer et al., Nature, 367:576-579 (1994), Fong et al., Cancer Res., 59:99-106 (1999)). Among many angiogenesis targets, VEGF and its receptor are most attractive (Carmeliet, Nat. Med., 9(6):653-60 (2003), Ortega et al., Front. Biosci., 4:D141-52 (1999)). As noted above, treatment with a monoclonal antibody specifically targeting VEGF inhibited the growth of tumors in human xenografts implanted in nude mice. Subsequently, various approaches designed to inactivate VEGF signaling have been tested in tumor models and have proven to be highly effective in a broad range of tumor cell lines including carcinomas, sarcomas and gliomas (Ferrara et al., Endocr. Rev., 18:4-25, 1997), Kim et al., Nature, 362:841-844 (1993), Millauer et al., Nature, 367:576-579 (1994), Fong et al., Cancer Res., 59:99-106 (1999), Geng et al., Cancer Res., 61:2413-2419 (2001)). In addition, inhibition of VEGF by anti-VEGF antibody did not result in significant side effects in fully developed rodents or primates (Ryan et al, Toxicol. Pathol., 27:78-86 (1999), Ferrara et al., Nat. Med., 4:336-340 (1998)). Taken together, these results indicate that VEGF is a valid target for the development of tumor therapy. Indeed, a number of clinical trials are underway using VEGF inhibitors (Matter, Drug Discovery Today, 6:1005-1024 (2001), Hichlin et al., Drug Discovery Today, 6:517-528 (2001)).

Although several pro-angiogenic factors are implicated in the pathology of exudative age-related macular degeneration, VEGF appears to be the most critical in the pathogenesis and development of this disease (Witmer et al., Prog. Retin Eye Res., 22(1):1-29 (2003), Holash et al., Science, 284:1994-1998 (1999)). Data from preclinical experiments and clinical trials have demonstrated that blockade of VEGF alone is sufficient to alleviate or stabilize disease progression (Eyetech Study Group, 22(2):143-52 (2002), Krzystolik et al., Arch. Opthalmol., 120(3):338-46 (2002), Shen et al., Lab Invest., 82(2):167-82 (2002), Honda et al., Gene Ther., 7(11):978-85 (2000), Saishin et al., J. Cell Physiol., 195(2):241-8 (2003)). For example, inhibition of VEGFR signaling by a specific tyrosine kinase inhibitor is sufficient to completely prevent retinal neovascularization in a murine retinopathy of prematurity model (Ozaki H, Seo M S, Ozaki et al., Am. J. Pathol., 156(2):697-707 (2000)). Furthermore, it has recently been demonstrated that small interfering RNAs (siRNA) directed against murine VEGF significantly inhibited ocular neovascularization after laser photocoagulation in a mouse model (Reich et al., Mol. Vis. 30; 9:210-6 (2003)). These results indicate that selective inhibition of VEGF expression is achievable and offers validation of this approach for the treatment of ocular neovascular diseases such as exudative macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy.

Three approaches have been used to inhibit VEGF activity, including (1) neutralization of VEGF activity by using a specific antibody, soluble VEGF receptor or aptamer oligos against the VEGF/VEGFR interaction (Kim et al., Nature, 362:841-844 (1993), Lin et al., Cell Growth Differ., 9(1):49-58 (1998), Borgstrom et al., Prostate, 35:1-10 (1998), Zhu et al., Invest. New Drugs, 17:195-212 (1999), Millauer et al., Nature, 367:576-579 (1994), Asano et al., Jpn. J. Cancer Res., 90(1):93-100 (1999), Brekken et al., Cancer Res., 60(18):5117-24 (2000)); (2) inhibition of VEGFR mediated signal transduction by specific small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors (Fong et al., Cancer Res., 59:99-106 (1999), Wedge et al., Cancer Res., 60(4):970-5 (2000), Laird et al., Cancer Res., 60(15):4152-60 (2000)); and (3) inhibition of VEGF/VEGFR expression by using antisense, siRNA or ribozyme (Reich et al., Mol. Vis. 30; 9:210-6 (2003), Parry et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 27:2569-2577 (1999), Ellis et al., Surgery, 120:871-878 (1996), Filleur et al., Cancer Res., 63(14):3919-22 (2003)). Although all of these approaches show significant inhibition of angiogenesis in vivo, they all possess significant limitations. For example, therapeutic proteins (antibody and soluble receptors) or oligos (antisense, siRNA and ribozyme) are large molecules with poor permeability that usually require parenteral administration and are costly to produce. For treatment of chronic ocular neovascularization, multiple injections may be impractical due to potential complications such as retinal detachment and procedure related infection. Moreover, tyrosine kinase inhibitors have the potential for limited specificity. VEGF is constitutively expressed at a low level in normal eyes and other tissues and thus it may be harmful to completely suppress VEGF function by administration of antibody or tyrosine kinase inhibitors systemically, especially for patients with AMD and RD many of whom are also hypertensive (Giles et al., Cancer, 97(8):1920-8 (2003), Sugimoto et al., J. Biol. Chem., 278(15):12605-8 (2003), Bergsland et al., American Society of Clinical Oncology 36^(th) Annual Meeting, 20-23 May, 2000, New Orleans, La., USA, Abstract 939), DeVore et al., American Society of Clinical Oncology 36^(th) Annual Meeting, 20-23 May, 2000, New Orleans, La., USA, Abstract 1896).

Thus, there remains a need to develop, characterize and optimize lead molecules for the development of novel anti-angiogenesis drugs. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide such compounds.

All documents referred to herein are incorporated by reference into the present application as though fully set forth herein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to compounds for inhibiting the expression of VEGF post-transcriptionally or for inhibiting angiogenesis, and compositions, methods, and kits for the administration or use of such compounds.

In accordance with the present invention, compounds that inhibit the expression of VEGF post-transcriptionally have been identified, and methods for their use provided.

In one aspect of the invention, compounds of Formulas (I), (II) and (III), including Formulas (I-a) to (I-l), are provided which are useful in the inhibition of VEGF production, in the inhibition of angiogenesis, and/or in the treatment of cancer, diabetic retinopathy or exudative macular degeneration.

In another aspect of the invention, methods are provided for the inhibition of VEGF production, the inhibition of angiogenesis, and/or the treatment of cancer, cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, diabetic retinopathy, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, atherosclerosis, chronic inflammation, other chronic inflammation-related diseases and disorders, obesity, or exudative macular degeneration using the compounds described herein.

In one embodiment, the invention is directed to methods for inhibiting VEGF production comprising administering a VEGF-expression inhibiting amount of at least one compound of the invention to a subject in need thereof.

In another embodiment, methods for inhibiting angiogenesis are provided comprising administering an anti-angiogenic amount of at least one compound of the invention to a subject in need thereof.

The present invention also provides methods for treating a solid tumor cancer comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of Formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate, solvate, clathrate, polymorph, racemate or stereoisomer of said compound, to a subject in need thereof.

The present invention also provides methods for treating a Ewing's sarcoma or a Wilms tumor comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of Formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate, solvate, clathrate, polymorph, racemate or stereoisomer of said compound, to a subject in need thereof.

The present invention also provides methods for treating a neuroblastoma comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of Formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate, solvate, clathrate, polymorph, racemate or stereoisomer of said compound, to a subject in need thereof.

The present invention further provides methods of treating a malignant melanoma comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of Formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate, solvate, clathrate, polymorph, racemate or stereoisomer of said compound, to a subject in need thereof.

The present invention yet further provides methods for treating cervical cancer comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of Formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate, solvate, clathrate, polymorph, racemate or stereoisomer of said compound, to a subject in need thereof.

The present invention also provides methods for treating lung cancer comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of Formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate, solvate, clathrate, polymorph, racemate or stereoisomer of said compound, to a subject in need thereof.

The present invention also provides methods for treating colon cancer comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of Formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate, solvate, clathrate, polymorph, racemate or stereoisomer of said compound, to a subject in need thereof.

The present invention further provides methods for treating a solid tumor cancer by post-transcriptionally modifying VEGF expression comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of Formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate, solvate, clathrate, polymorph, racemate or stereoisomer of said compound, to a subject in need thereof.

The present invention yet further provides methods for treating a solid tumor cancer by slowing tumorigenesis at a pre-vascular stage comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of Formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate, solvate, clathrate, polymorph, racemate or stereoisomer of said compound, to a subject in need thereof.

The present invention also provides methods for treating a solid tumor cancer by reducing tumor VEGF levels comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of Formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate, solvate, clathrate, polymorph, racemate or stereoisomer of said compound, to a subject in need thereof.

The present invention further provides methods for treating a solid tumor cancer by reducing perivascularly sequestered VEGF comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of Formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate, solvate, clathrate, polymorph, racemate or stereoisomer of said compound, to a subject in need thereof.

The present invention also provides methods of inhibiting VEGF mRNA translation comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of Formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate, solvate, clathrate, polymorph, racemate or stereoisomer of said compound, to a subject in need thereof.

The present invention further provides methods of slowing tumorigenesis at a pre-vascular stage comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of Formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate, solvate, clathrate, polymorph, racemate or stereoisomer of said compound, to a subject in need thereof.

The present invention yet further provides methods of reducing tumor VEGF levels comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of Formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate, solvate, clathrate, polymorph, racemate or stereoisomer of said compound, to a subject in need thereof.

The present invention also provides methods of reducing plasma and serum VEGF levels comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of Formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate, solvate, clathrate, polymorph, racemate or stereoisomer of said compound, to a subject in need thereof.

The present invention further provides methods of reducing perivascularly sequestered VEGF comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of Formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate, solvate, clathrate, polymorph, racemate or stereoisomer of said compound, to a subject in need thereof.

The present invention yet further provides methods of treating a solid tumor cancer comprising measuring serum or plasma levels of VEGF, tumor levels of VEGF, or both, and administering a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of Formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate, solvate, clathrate, polymorph, racemate or stereoisomer of said compound, to a subject in need thereof.

The present invention also provides methods of diagnosing solid tumor cancers comprising measuring serum or plasma levels of VEGF.

The present invention further provides methods of diagnosing solid tumor cancers comprising measuring tumor levels of VEGF.

The present invention yet further provides methods of treating a solid tumor cancer comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of Formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate, solvate, clathrate, polymorph, racemate or stereoisomer thereof, together with one or more additional agents useful for treating cancer to a subject in need thereof.

These and other aspects of the invention will be more clearly understood with reference to the following preferred embodiments and detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates inhibition of VEGF expression in a cervical cancer tumor by a certain compound of the invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates inhibition of lung cancer tumor growth by a certain compound of the invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates inhibition of Ewing's sarcoma and neuroblastoma tumor growth by a certain compound of the invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates inhibition of fibrosarcoma tumor growth by a certain compound of the invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates inhibition of malignant melanoma tumor growth by a certain compound of the invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates inhibition of VEGF expression in a fibrosarcoma tumor by a certain compound of the invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates inhibition of colon cancer tumor growth by a certain compound of the invention, either alone or in combination with 5-FU (fluorouracil).

FIG. 8 illustrates inhibition of cervical cancer tumor growth by a certain compound of the invention, either alone or in combination with Taxol (paclitaxel).

FIG. 9 illustrates inhibition of tumor growth by a certain compound of the invention, either alone or in combination with Avastin (bevacizumab, an antibody to VEGF).

FIG. 10 illustrates inhibition of tumor and plasma VEGF expression by a certain compound of the invention, either alone or in combination with Avastin.

FIG. 11 illustrates inhibition of angiogenesis by a certain compound of the invention.

FIG. 12 illustrates that a certain compound of the invention does not affect VEGF mRNA levels under hypoxic conditions.

FIG. 13 illustrates that the activity of phosphdiesterase 5 (PDE-5) is not affected by certain compounds of the invention.

FIG. 14 illustrates the effect of a compound of the invention on the production of VEGF by cultures kerotinocytes exposed to normoxic and hypoxic conditions.

FIG. 15 illustrates the mean (average) plasma concentrations of a compound of the invention at several times following administration of a single dose of a compound to normal healthy subjects. The error bars show the standard deviation.

FIG. 16 illustrates the mean plasma concentrations of VEGF (FIG. 16, panel A) and the change in VEGF relative to baseline measurements (FIG. 16, panel B) over time following a single dose 0.0 mg/ml (placebo) or 3.0 mg/kg of a compound of the invention.

FIG. 17 illustrates the mean plasma concentrations of a compound of the invention at day one and seven of a seven day dosing study of normal healthy subjects at three different doses administered twice per day (0.3, 0.6 or 1.2 mg/kg). The error bars show the standard deviation.

FIG. 18 illustrates the mean plasma and serum concentrations of VEGF relative to placebo treated subjects at several time points following administration of doses of a compound of the invention. Groups of subjects are treated with twice daily (BID) with 0.3 mg/kg, 0.6 mg/kg, or 1.2 mg/kg of the compound. For assessment of effects on VEGF levels with administration three times daily (TID) compound was administered at 1.6 mg/kg (4.8 mg/kg/day total).

FIG. 19 illustrates the mean plasma concentrations of a compound of the invention at day one and seven of a seven day dosing study of normal healthy subjects at a dose 1.6 mg/kg administered three times a day (a total of 4.8 mg/kg/day). The error bars show the standard deviation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Aberrant up-regulation of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), a key factor for angiogenesis, is an important contributor to the pathogenesis of disease states such as cancer, diabetic retinopathy, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, atherosclerosis, chronic inflammation, other chronic inflammation-related diseases and disorders, obesity, or exudative macular degeneration. In accordance with the present invention, compounds that inhibit the expression of VEGF post-transcriptionally have been identified, and methods for their use provided. The compounds of the invention have nanomolar to sub-nanomolar activity for the inhibition of VEGF expression.

A. Compounds of the Invention

In one aspect of the invention, compounds are provided which are useful in the inhibition of VEGF production, in the inhibition of angiogenesis, and/or in the treatment of cancer, diabetic retinopathy or exudative macular degeneration. In certain embodiments, the compounds of the invention specifically inhibit VEGF production, while in other embodiments, the compounds of the invention inhibit VEGF expression as well as that of other angiogenesis factors such as FGF-2. In this regard, pan-angiogenic inhibitor may be preferred in methods of inhibiting tumor growth, while VEGF specific inhibitors may be preferred for the treatment of ocular neovascular disorders (Eyetech Study Group, 22(2):143-52 (2002)).

The compounds of the invention generally include one or more chiral centers, and as such may exist as racemic mixtures (R/S) or as enantiomerically pure compositions. The compounds may exist as (R) or (S) isomers (when one chiral center is present) in enantiomerically pure compositions. In a preferred embodiment, the compounds of the invention are the (S) isomers and may exist as enantiomerically pure compositions comprising only the (S) isomer. As one of skill will recognize, when more than one chiral center is present, the compounds of the invention may exist as (R,R), (R,S), (S,R), (S,S), etc. isomer. Preferred compounds included (S,S) and (S,R) isomers.

As used herein, “enantiomerically pure” refers to compositions consisting substantially of a single isomer, preferably consisting of greater than or equal to 90%, 92%, 95%, 98%, 99%, or equal to 100% of a single isomer.

As used herein, a “racemic mixture” is any mixture of isometric forms that are not “enantiomerically pure,” including, without limitation, about 50/50, about 60/40, and about 70/30 mixtures.

Preferred compounds of the present invention useful in the inhibition of VEGF production include those of Formula (I) as shown below.

wherein,

X is hydrogen; a C₁ to C₆ alkyl, optionally substituted with one or more halogens; a hydroxyl group; a halogen; a C₁ to C₅ alkoxy, optionally substituted with a C₆ to C₁₀ aryl group;

A is C or N;

B is C or N, with the proviso that at least one of A or B is N, and that when A is N, B is C;

R₁ is a hydroxyl group; a C₁ to C₈ alkyl group, optionally substituted with an alkylthio group, a 5 to 10 membered heteroaryl, a C₆ to C₁₀ aryl group optionally substituted with at least one independently selected R_(o) group; a C₂ to C₈ alkenyl group; a C₂ to C₈ alkynyl group; a 3 to 12 membered heterocycle group, wherein the heterocycle group is optionally substituted with at least one independently selected halogen, oxo, amino, alkylamino, acetamino, thio, or alkylthio group; a 5 to 12 membered heteroaryl group, wherein the heteroaryl group is optionally substituted with at least one independently selected halogen, oxo, amino, alkylamino, acetamino, thio, or alkylthio group; or a C₆ to C₁₀ aryl group, optionally substituted with at least one independently selected R_(o) group;

R_(o) is a halogen; a cyano; a nitro; a sulfonyl, wherein the sulfonyl is optionally substituted with a C₁ to C₆ alkyl or a 3 to 10 membered heterocycle; an amino group, wherein the amino group is optionally substituted with a C₁ to C₆ alkyl, —C(O)—R_(b), —C(O)O—R_(b), a sulfonyl, an alkylsulfonyl, a 3 to 10 membered heterocycle group optionally substituted with a —C(O)O—R_(n); —C(O)—NH—R_(b); a 5 to 6 membered heterocycle; a 5 to 6 membered heteroaryl; a C₁ to C₆ alkyl group, wherein the alkyl group is optionally substituted with at least one independently selected hydroxyl, halogen, amino, or 3 to 12 membered heterocycle group, wherein the amino group and heterocycle group are optionally substituted with at least one independently selected C₁ to C₄ alkyl group, which C₁ to C₄ alkyl group is optionally substituted with at least one independently selected C₁ to C₄ alkoxy group, amino group, alkylamino group, or 5 to 10 membered heterocycle group; a —C(O)—R_(n) group; or an —OR_(a) group;

R_(a) is hydrogen; C₂ to CS alkenyl; a —C(O)O—R_(b) group; a —C(O)—NH—R_(b); a C₁ to C₈ alkyl, wherein the alkyl group is optionally substituted with at least one independently selected hydroxyl, halogen, C₁ to C₄ alkoxy, amino, alkylamino, acetamide, —C(O)—R_(b), —C(O)O—R_(b), C₆ to C₁₀ aryl, 3 to 12 membered heterocycle, or 5 to 12 heteroaryl group, further wherein the alkylamino is optionally substituted with a hydroxyl, a C₁ to C₄ alkoxy, or a 5 to 12 membered heteroaryl optionally substituted with a C₁ to C₄ alkyl, further wherein the acetamide is optionally substituted with a C₁ to C₄ alkoxy, sulfonyl, or alkylsulfonyl, further wherein and the heterocycle group is optionally substituted with a C₁ to C₄ alkyl optionally substituted with a hydroxyl group, —C(O)—R_(n), —C(O)O—R_(n), or an oxo group;

R_(b) is hydroxyl; an amino; an alkylamino, wherein the alkylamino is optionally substituted with a hydroxyl, an amino, an alkylamino, a C₁ to C₄ alkoxy, a 3 to 12 membered heterocycle optionally substituted with at least one independently selected C₁ to C₆ alkyl, oxo, —C(O)O—R_(n), or a 5 to 12 membered heteroaryl optionally substituted with a C₁ to C₄ alkyl; a C₁ to C₄ alkoxy; a C₂ to C₈ alkenyl; a C₂ to C₈ alkynyl; a C₆ to C₁₀ aryl, wherein the aryl is optionally substituted with at least one independently selected halogen or C₁ to C₄ alkoxy; a 5 to 12 membered heteroaryl; 3 to 12 membered heterocycle group, wherein the heterocycle is optionally substituted with at least one independently selected acetamide, —C(O)O—R_(n), 5 to 6 membered heterocycle, or C₁ to C₆ alkyl optionally substituted with a hydroxyl, C₁ to C₄ alkoxy, amino group, or alkylamino group; or a C₁ to C₈ alkyl, wherein the alkyl is optionally substituted with at least one independently selected C₁ to C₄ alkoxy, C₆ to C₁₀ aryl, amino, or 3 to 12 membered heterocycle group, wherein the amino and heterocycle groups are optionally substituted with at least one independently selected C₁ to C₆ alkyl, oxo, or —C(O)O—R_(n) group;

R₂ is a hydrogen; a hydroxyl; a 5 to 10 membered heteroaryl group; a C₁ to C₈ alkyl group, wherein the alkyl group is optionally substituted with a hydroxyl, a C₁ to C₄ alkoxy, a 3 to 10 membered heterocycle, a 5 to 10 membered heteroaryl, or C₆ to C₁₀ aryl group; a —C(O)—R_(c) group; a —C(O)O—R_(d) group; a —C(O)—N(R_(d)R_(d)) group; a —C(S)—N(R_(d)R_(d)) group; a —C(S)—O—R_(e) group; a —S(O₂)—R_(e) group; a —C(NR_(e))—S—R_(e) group; or a —C(S)—S—R_(f) group;

R_(c) is hydrogen; an amino, wherein the amino is optionally substituted with at least one independently selected C₁ to C₆ alkyl or C₆ to C₁₀ aryl group; a C₆ to C₁₀ aryl, wherein the aryl is optionally substituted with at least one independently selected halogen, haloalkyl, hydroxyl, C₁ to C₄ alkoxy, or C₁ to C₆ alkyl group; —C(O)—R_(n); a 5 to 6 membered heterocycle, wherein the heterocycle is optionally substituted with a —C(O)—R_(n) group; a 5 to 6 membered heteroaryl; a thiazoleamino group; a C₁ to C₈ alkyl group, wherein the alkyl group is optionally substituted with at least one independently selected halogen, a C₁ to C₄ alkoxy, a phenyloxy, a C₆ to C₁₀ aryl, —C(O)—R_(n), —O—C(O)—R_(n), hydroxyl, or amino group, optionally substituted with a —C(O)O—R_(n) group;

R_(d) is independently hydrogen; a C₂ to C₈ alkenyl group; a C₂ to C₈ alkynyl group; a C₆ to C₁₀ aryl group, wherein the aryl is optionally substituted with at least one independently selected halogen, nitro, C₁ to C₆ alkyl, —C(O)O—R_(e), or —OR_(e); or a C₁ to C₈ alkyl group, wherein the alkyl group is optionally substituted with at least one independently selected halogen, C₁ to C₄ alkyl, C₁ to C₄ alkoxy, phenyloxy, C₆ to C₁₀ aryl, 5 to 6 membered heteroaryl, —C(O)—R_(n), —O—C(O)—R_(n), or hydroxyl group, wherein the C₆ to C₁₀ aryl group is optionally substituted with at least one independently selected halogen or haloalkyl group;

R_(e) is a hydrogen; a C₁ to C₆ alkyl group, wherein the alkyl group is optionally substituted with at least one independently selected halogen or alkoxy group; or a C₆ to C₁₀ aryl group, wherein the aryl group is optionally substituted with at least one independently selected halogen or alkoxy group;

R_(f) is a C₁ to C₆ alkyl group, optionally substituted with at least one independently selected halogen, hydroxyl, C₁ to C₄ alkoxy, cyano, C₆ to C₁₀ aryl, or —C(O)—R_(n) group, wherein the alkoxy group may be optionally substituted with at least one C₁ to C₄ alkoxy group and the aryl group may be optionally substituted with at least one independently selected halogen, hydroxyl, C₁ to C₄ alkoxy, cyano, or C₁ to C₆ alkyl group;

R_(n) is a hydroxyl, C₁ to C₄ alkoxy, amino, or C₁ to C₆ alkyl group;

R₃ is hydrogen or —C(O)—R_(g);

R_(g) is a hydroxyl group; an amino group, wherein the amino is optionally substituted with a C₆ to C₁₀ cycloalkyl group or a 5 to 10 membered heteroaryl group; or a 5 to 10 membered heterocycle group, wherein the heterocycle group is optionally substituted with a —C(O)—R_(n) group; and

n is 0, 1, 2, or 3.

As will be evident to one of skill in the art, the compounds of Formula (I) comprise at least one stereocenter (e.g., at the R₁ substituent), and may exist as a racemic mixture or as an enantiomerically pure composition. In a preferred embodiment, the compounds of Formula (I) are the (S) isomer, in an enantiomerically pure composition.

As used herein, the term “alkyl” generally refers to saturated hydrocarbyl radicals of straight, branched or cyclic configuration including methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, n-pentyl, n-hexyl, cyclohexyl, n-heptyl, octyl, n-octyl, and the like. In some embodiments, alkyl substituents may be include C₁ to C₈, C₁ to C₆, or C₁ to C₄ alkyl groups. The alkyl group may be optionally substituted with one or more halogen or alkoxy groups. For instance, the alkyl group may be a haloalkyl, dihaloalkyl, or trihaloalkyl.

As used herein, “alkenyl” generally refers to linear, branched or cyclic alkene radicals having one or more carbon-carbon double bonds, such as C₂ to C₈ and C₂ to C₆ alkenyl groups, including 3-propenyl.

As used herein, “alkynyl” generally refers to linear, branched or cyclic alkyne radicals having one or more carbon-carbon triple bonds, such as C₂ to C₈ and C₂ to C₆ alkynyl groups, including hex-3-yne.

As used herein, “aryl” refers to a carbocyclic aromatic ring structure. Included in the scope of aryl groups are aromatic rings having from five to twenty carbon atoms. Aryl ring structures include compounds having one or more ring structures, such as mono-, bi-, or tricyclic compounds. Examples of aryl groups that include phenyl, tolyl, anthracenyl, fluorenyl, indenyl, azulenyl, phenanthrenyl (i.e., phenanthrene), and napthyl (i.e., napthalene) ring structures. In certain embodiments, the aryl group may be optionally substituted.

As used herein, “heteroaryl” refers to cyclic aromatic ring structures in which one or more atoms in the ring, the heteroatom(s), is an element other than carbon. Heteroatoms are typically O, S or N atoms. Included within the scope of heteroaryl, and independently selectable, are O, N, and S heteroaryl ring structures. The ring structure may include compounds having one or more ring structures, such as mono-, bi-, or tricyclic compounds. In some embodiments, the heteroaryl groups may be selected from heteroaryl groups that contain one or more heteroatoms, two or more heteroatoms, three or more heteroatoms, or four or more heteroatoms. Heteroaryl ring structures may be selected from those that contain five or more atoms, six or more atoms, or eight or more atoms. Examples of heteroaryl ring structures include: acridine, benzimidazole, benzoxazole, benzodioxole, benzofuran, dihydro-chromen-4-only, 1,3-diazine, 1,2-diazine, 1,2-diazole, 1,4-diazanaphthalene, furan, furazan, imidazole, indole, isoxazole, isoquinoline, isothiazole, isoindolyl, oxazole, purine, pyridazine, pyrazole, pyridine, pyrazine, pyrimidine, pyrrole, quinoline, quinoxaline, thiazole, thiophene, 1,3,5-triazine, 1,2,4-triazine, 1,2,3-triazine, tetrazole and quinazoline. In certain embodiments, the heteroaryl may be optionally substituted.

As used herein, “heterocycle” refers to cyclic ring structures in which one or more atoms in the ring, the heteroatom(s), is an element other than carbon. Heteroatoms are typically O, S or N atoms. Included within the scope of heterocycle, and independently selectable, are O, N, and S heterocycle ring structures. The ring structure may include compounds having one or more ring structures, such as mono-, bi-, or tricyclic compounds. In some embodiments, the heterocycle groups may be selected from heterocycle groups that contain one or more heteroatoms, two or more heteroatoms, three or more heteroatoms, or four or more heteroatoms. Example of heterocycle groups include morpholinyl, pyrrolidinonyl, pyrrolidinyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, hydantoinyl, valerolactamyl, oxiranyl, oxetanyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, tetrahydropyranyl, tetrahydropyridinyl, tetrahydroprimidinyl, tetrahydrothiophenyl or tetrahydrothiopyranyl and the like. In certain embodiments, the heterocycle may optionally be substituted.

As used herein, “alkanoyl” generally refers to a group with the structure —C(O)—R. In certain embodiments, R may be a hydrogen, an alkyl, an 4-morpholinyl group, or a thiazoleamino group.

As used herein, “alkoxy” generally refers to a group with the structure —O—R. In certain embodiments, R may be an alkyl group, such as a C₁ to C₅ alkyl group.

For the purposes of this invention, halo substituents may be independently selected from the halogens such as fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, and astatine.

In certain preferred embodiments, X may be hydrogen, methoxy, hydroxyl, benzoxy, or a halogen, preferably bromide or chloride. In other embodiments, X may preferably be a C₁ to C₄ alkyl or a haloalkyl.

R₁ may preferably be a C₆ to C₈ aryl group, optionally substituted with at least one R₀ group. R₀ may then preferably be methoxy, benzoxy, a C₁ to C₆ alkyl, a 5 to 6 membered heteroaryl (such as furyl or imidazole), cyano, nitro, tri-fluoro methyl, or a halogen, more preferably methoxy, benzoxy, iso-butyl or a halogen, and more preferably methoxy, iso-butyl, bromide or chloride. Alternatively, R₁ may be a 5 to 10 membered heteroaryl or 3 to 12 membered heterocycle, such as a pyridinyl group, a thiophene group, a furyl group, a tetrahydro furyl group, and a thiazole group dihydro-chromen-4-onyl group, a 1H-isoindolyl group, or a benzodioxole group.

R₂ may preferably be a —CH₂-furyl group, a pyrimidyl group, or a —(O)O—R_(d) group. R_(d) may preferably then be a C₁ to C₆ alkyl, optionally substituted with at least one halogen; or a C₅ to C₆ aryl, optionally substituted with at least one methyl, methoxy, or halogen.

Preferred R₁ substituents also include the following, where the * indicates the bond of attachment to the carboline scaffold molecule.

Other preferred R₁ substituents include the following, where the * indicates the bond of attachment to the carboline scaffold molecule.

Preferred R₂ substituents also include the following, where the * indicates the bond of attachment to carboline scaffold molecule.

Other preferred R₂ substituents include the following, where the * indicates the bond of attachment to the carboline scaffold molecule.

Preferred R₃ substituents include the following, where the * indicates the bond of attachment to the carboline scaffold molecule.

A preferred class of compounds within Formula (I) include those compounds of Formula (I-a) as shown below.

wherein X, R₁ and R₂ are defined as described with regard to Formula (I) and the preferred embodiments described above.

Another preferred class of compounds within Formula (I) include those compounds of Formula (I-b) as shown below.

wherein:

X is a halogen;

R₂ is as described above with regard to Formula (I);

R₀ is as described above with regard to Formula (I);

m is 0, 1, 2, or 3; and

n is 0, 1, 2, or 3.

Other preferred classes of compounds within Formula (I) include the following.

It is understood that substituents X and R₁, R_(c), R_(d), and R_(e) of the compounds of Formulas (I-c) to (I-i) are defined as in Formula (I).

In other embodiments, preferred compounds of the present invention useful in the inhibition of VEGF production and treating cancer and other disorders include those of Formulas (I-i) through (I-l), as shown below. In the embodiments of Formulas (I-j) through (I-l), substituents X, R₁, R₂, R₃, etc. are defined as in Formula (I), as well as Formulas (I-a) to (I-i).

Also included within the scope of the invention are pharmaceutically acceptable salts, hydrates, solvates, calthrates, polymorphs, racemates and stereoisomers of the compounds described herein.

In another aspect of the invention, preferred compounds of the present invention useful in the inhibition of VEGF production, and treating cancer and other disorders include those of Formula (I-l) as shown below.

wherein,

X is hydrogen; a hydroxyl group; a halogen; a C₁-C₄ alkyl; a C₁ to C₅ alkoxy, optionally substituted with a C₆ to C₈ aryl group;

R₁ is a hydroxyl group; a C₁ to C₈ alkyl group, optionally substituted with a C₆ to C₈ aryl group, wherein the C₆ to C₈ aryl group is optionally substituted with at least one R₀ group; a heterocycle group; a heteroaryl group; and a C₆ to C₈ aryl group, optionally substituted with at least one R₀ group;

R₀ is a halogen; a C₁ to C₆ alkyl, optionally substituted with one or more halogen groups; a cyano group; a nitro group; an amino group; an aminoalkyl group; an acetamide group; an imidazole group; or OR_(a);

R_(a) is hydrogen; a C₁ to C₆ alkyl, optionally substituted with a heterocycle group or a C₆ to C₈ aryl group; or a —C(O)O—R_(b);

R_(b) is C₁ to C₄ alkyl group;

R₂ is a hydrogen; a hydroxyl; a heteroaryl group; a C₁ to C₈ alkyl group, optionally substituted with an alkoxy, hydroxyl, heteroaryl, or C₆ to C₈ aryl group; a —C(O)—R_(c) group; a —C(O)O—R_(d) group; a —C(O)NH—R_(d) group; a —C(S)NH—R_(d) group; a —S(O₂)—R_(e) group; or (1S)-isopropyl-carbamic acid tert-butyl ester;

R_(c) is hydrogen; a 4-morpholinyl group; a thiazoleamino group; a piperazinyl group, optionally substituted with a —C(O)CH₃ group; a C₁ to C₆ alkyl group, optionally substituted with a halogen, an alkoxy, or hydroxyl group;

R_(d) is hydrogen; a benzyl group; a C₁ to C₈ alkyl group, optionally substituted with a halogen or an alkoxy group; a C₆ to C₈ aryl group, optionally substituted with at least one halogen, C₁ to C₅ alkyl, —C(O)OR_(e), or OR_(e);

R_(e) is a hydrogen; a C₁ to C₆ alkyl group, optionally substituted with at least one halogen or alkoxy group; or a C₆ to C₈ aryl group; and

n is 0, 1, 2, or 3.

In another embodiment, compounds of Formulas (II), (III) and (IV) are provided, which are useful for inhibiting VEGF production, and treating cancer and other disorders.

Wherein X, R₁, R₂, R_(c) and R_(d) are defined as described above with regard with Formula (I).

For the purposes of this invention, where one or more functionalities encompassing X R₁, R₂, R₀, R_(a), R_(b), R_(c), R_(d), and R_(e), are incorporated into a molecule of Formulas (I), (II), and (III), including Formulas (I-a) to (I-k), each of the functionalities appearing at any location within the disclosed may be independently selected, and as appropriate, independently substituted. Further, where a more generic substituent is set forth for any position in the molecules of the present invention, it is understood that the generic substituent may be replaced with more specific substituents, and the resulting molecules are within the scope of the molecules of the present invention.

Preferred compounds of the invention include the following.

In certain embodiments, preferred compounds include those with an EC₅₀ in the VEGF ELISA assay described in Example 5 of less than about 2 uM, more preferably between about 2 uM and about 0.04 uM (200 mM to 40 nM); more preferably from about 0.04 uM to about 0.008 uM to (40 nM to 8 nM); and more preferably less than about 0.008 uM (<8 nM). Particularly prefer-red compounds are Compound Nos: 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 17, 23, 25, 81, 102, 112, 140, 328, 329, 330, 331, 332, 355, 816, 817, 818, 823, 824, 825, 830, 831, 832, 837, 838, 841, 842, 843, and regioisomers thereof. In one embodiment, the preferred compounds of the invention form a racemic mixture, and in another embodiment the compounds of the invention are the (R), (S), (R,R), (S,S), (R,S), (SIR) isomer, in an enantiomerically pure composition. More preferably, the compounds of the invention are the (S) isomers, in an enantiomerically pure composition.

The above compounds are listed only to provide examples that may be used in the methods of the invention. Based upon the instant disclosure, the skilled artisan would recognize other compounds intended to be included within the scope of the presently claimed invention that would be useful in the methods recited herein.

B. Preparation of Compounds of the Invention

Compounds of the invention may be produced in any manner known in the art. By way of example, compounds of the invention may be prepared according to the following general schemes. More specifically, Scheme I may be used to make compounds of Formula I. Scheme Ia can be used when in conjunction with Scheme I when R₂ is a —CH₂-furanyl group. Alternatively, for asymmetric synthesis when R₂ is hydrogen or hydroxyl, Scheme Ib may be used.

Scheme II can be used to prepare compounds of Formula I-h.

Schemes IIIa or IIIb can be used to prepare compounds of Formula I-i.

In a preferred embodiment, compounds of the invention may be resolved to enantiomerically pure compositions using any method known in art. By way of example, compounds of the invention may be resolved by direct crystallization of enantiomer mixtures, by diastereomer salt formation of enantiomers, by the formation of diasteriomers and separation, or by enzymatic resolution.

In a preferred embodiment, compounds of the invention may be resolved through crystallization using, e.g., N-acetyl-L-phenylalanine to obtain the (S) isomer, or N-acetyl-D-phenylalanine to obtain the (R) isomer, in a manner similar to that illustrated in Scheme IV.

In certain embodiments, exemplary methods of Scheme I for preparing preferred compounds of Formula I involve the formation of free amine Pictet-Spengler reaction products/intermediates, as described below in Procedure-I.

In one embodiment, Procedure-I may involve adding a desired Aldehyde (II) to a suspension of 5-substituted tryptamine. HCl (I) in 0.1N sulfinic acid. The solution may then be stirred at about 110° C.-120° C. in a closed reaction vessel until the reaction is sufficient to complete, e.g., for about 15 minutes to about 20 hours. After completion of the reaction, the reaction mixture may be cooled to room temperature and the precipitated salt may be filtered. The filtered residue may then be washed with ether, EtOAc or a mixture of DCM and DMF and dried to give the product (III) as acid salt. Alternatively, a desired Aldehyde (II) may be added to a suspension of 5-substituted tryptamine.HCl (I) in acetic acid and refluxed until the reaction is sufficiently complete, e.g., for about 15 minutes to about 20 hours. After completion of the reaction, the reaction mixture may be cooled to room temperature and the acid salt may be filtered. The filtered residue may then be washed with acetic acid followed by DCM and dried to give the product (III) as acid salt. The free amine (III) may be obtained by extraction with EtOAc and washing with aqueous ammonium hydroxide or 1M aq. sodium hydroxide.

The free amine, or its salt, may then be used to form other preferred compounds of Formula I, such as carbamate analogs (Formula 1-c, Procedure-II), amide analogs, including N-acetyl analogs (Formula I-c, Procedure-IIIa and Procedure-IIIb), urea and thiourea analogs (Formula I-e and I-f, Procedure-IV and Procedure-V respectively), sulfoxide analogs (Formula I-g, Procedure-VI), and pyrimidine analogs (Procedure-VII).

More particularly, Procedure-II may be used to synthesize carbamate analogs of free amines (III), or their salts.

In accordance with Procedure-II, diisopropylethylamine (DIEA) may be added to the free amine (III), or its acid salt in dichloromethane (DCM), followed by slow addition of substituted chloroformate. The reaction mixture may be stirred at room temperature for about 1 to 20 hours. The solvent may then be evaporated and the crude product may either be purified by HPLC or silica gel column chromatography.

Procedure-IIIa may be used to synthesize amide analogs of free amine (III), or their salts.

In accordance with Procedure-IIIa, a 15 min pre-stirred mixture of an R₂-acid and diisopropyl carbodiimide (DIC) may be added to the free amine (III), or its acid salt in DCM and DIEA. The reaction mixture may be stirring for about 1 h. The solvents may then be evaporated and the crude product purified by HPLC.

Alternatively, Procedure-IIIb may be used to synthesize N-acetyl analogs of free amines (III), or their salts.

In accordance with Procedure-IIIb, pyridine may be added to the free amine (III), or its acid salt in DCM, followed by acetic anhydride. The reaction mixture may be stirred at room temperature for about 8 to 20 hours. The solvents may then be evaporated and the crude product was purified by HPLC.

Procedure-IV may be used to synthesize urea analogs of free amines (III), or their salts.

In accordance with Procedure-IV, DIEA and R₂-isocyanate may be added to the free amine (III), or its acid salt in DCM. The reaction mixture may be refluxed for about 1.5 h. The solvents may then be evaporated and the crude product purified by HPLC.

Procedure-V may be used to synthesize thiourea analogs of free amines (III), or their salts.

In accordance with Procedure-V, DIEA and R₂-isothiocyanate may be added to the free amine (III), or its acid salt in DCM. The reaction mixture may be refluxed for about 12 h. The solvents may then be evaporated and the crude product purified by HPLC.

Procedure-VI may be used to synthesize sulfonyl analogs of free amines (III), or their salts.

In accordance with Procedure-VI, DIEA and R₂-sulfonylchloride may be added to the free amine (III), or its acid salt in DCM. The reaction mixture may be stirred at room temperature for about 12 h. The solvents may then be evaporated and the crude product purified by HPLC.

Procedure-VII may be used to synthesize pyrimidine analogs of free amines (III), or their salts.

In accordance with Procedure-VII, triethylamine and 2-bromopyrimidine in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) may be added to the free amine (III), or its acid salt in DCM. The reaction mixture may be heated to about 120° C. for about 12 h. The solvents may then be evaporated and the crude product purified by HPLC.

These and other reaction methodologies may be useful in preparing the compounds of the invention, as recognized by one of skill in the art. Various modifications to the above schemes and procedures will be apparent to one of skill in the art, and the invention is not limited specifically by the method of preparing the compounds of the invention.

C. Methods of the Invention

In another aspect of the invention, methods are provided for the inhibition of VEGF production, the inhibition of angiogenesis, and/or the treatment of cancer, diabetic retinopathy, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, atherosclerosis, chronic inflammation, other chronic inflammation-related diseases and disorders, obesity, or exudative macular degeneration using the compounds described herein.

In one embodiment, the invention is directed to methods for inhibiting VEGF production comprising administering a VEGF-expression inhibiting amount of at least one compound of the invention to a subject in need thereof.

In another embodiment, methods for inhibiting angiogenesis are provided comprising administering an anti-angiogenic amount of at least one compound of the invention to a subject in need thereof.

In yet another embodiment, methods for treating cancer, diabetic retinopathy, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, atherosclerosis, chronic inflammation, other chronic inflammation-related diseases and disorders, obesity, or exudative macular degeneration are provided comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of at least one compound of the invention to a subject in need thereof.

In yet a further embodiment, the cancers which can be treated by administering a therapeutically effective amount of at least one compound of the invention to a subject in need thereof include solid tumor cancers. Solid tumor cancers that can be treated by the present invention include solid tumor carcinomas and solid tumor sarcomas. Solid tumor carcinomas include, but are not limited to, pediatric solid tumors, such as Ewing's sarcoma or Wilms tumor and neuroblastoma, and carcinomas of the epidermis, such as malignant melanomas, as well as lung cancers, cervical cancers, colon cancers and renal cancers. Solid tumor sarcomas include, but are not limited to, fibrosarcomas. The methods of treating cancer can further include the administration of one or more additional agents useful for treating cancer.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, methods for treating a solid tumor cancer by slowing tumorigenesis at a pre-vascular stage are provided, comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of at least one compound of the invention to a subject in need thereof, either alone or together with one or more additional agents useful for treating cancer.

In another embodiment of the invention, methods for treating a solid tumor cancer by inhibiting VEGF mRNA translation are provided, comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of at least one compound of the invention to a subject in need thereof, either alone or together with one or more additional agents useful for treating cancer.

In yet another embodiment of the invention methods for treating a solid tumor cancer by reducing tumor VEGF levels are provided, comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of at least one compound of the invention to a subject in need thereof, either alone or together with one or more additional agents useful for treating cancer.

In yet a further embodiment of the invention, methods for treating a solid tumor cancer by reducing perivascularly sequestered or intratumoral VEGF are provided, comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of at least one compound of the invention to a subject in need thereof, either alone or together with one or more additional agents useful for treating cancer. In this aspect, reduced perivascularly sequestered VEGF is an in situ comparison of perivascular VEGF in tumors treated with the compound of the invention and tumors not treated with the compound of the invention. In a preferred aspect, reduced perivascularly sequestered VEGF is compared with levels of perivascular VEGF in tumors treated with antibodies to VEGF.

Without intending to be limited by theory, it is believed that the methods of the present invention act through a combination of mechanisms that modulate the activity of VEGF. In this embodiment of the invention, methods for inhibiting VEGF mRNA translation are provided, comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of at least one compound of the invention to a subject in need thereof. In a preferred aspect, VEGF mRNA translation is inhibited by greater than 10%, 25%, 50%, 75%, 80%, or 90% compared with an untreated tumor or cell.

In another embodiment of the invention, methods for slowing tumorigenesis at a pre-vascular stage are provided, comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of at least one compound of the invention to a subject in need thereof, either alone or together with one or more additional cancer agents. The pre-vascular stage of tumorigenesis is clinically known as “carcinoma in situ” and tumors at this stage are characterized by their reliance on nearby blood vessels for oxygen and diffusion of nutrients, due to the tumors absence of its own vascular infrastructure. So, by slowing tumorigenesis at a pre-vascular stage, one is preventing or slowing the development of a vascular infrastructure in the tumor. In this embodiment of the invention, whether tumorigenesis has been slowed at the pre-vascular stage is determined by identifying to what extent the tumor has developed a vascular infrastructure. In a preferred aspect, treated tumor growth is prevented or slowed, as compared to the untreated tumors, by 90%, 80%, 70%, 60%, 50%, 40%, 30%, 20% or 10%.

In yet a further embodiment of the invention, methods for reducing perivascularly sequestered or intratumoral VEGF are provided, comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of at least one compound of the invention to a subject in need thereof.

In yet an additional embodiment of the invention, methods of diagnosing cancer by measuring tumor plasma, and/or serum levels of VEGF are provided. Tumor levels of VEGF can be measured using biopsy tissue, where plasma or serum VEGF levels can be measured by taking blood. In humans, different tumors secrete different levels of VEGF. Standard ELISA procedures can be used to measure the amount of VEGF in the tumor, serum or plasma. See, for example, Verheul, H. M. W. et al. (2000) Platelet and coagulation activation with vascular endothelial growth factor generation in soft tissue sarcomas. Clin. Cancer Res. 6:166. For tumors that do not secrete large amounts of VEGF into the plasma, the tumor VEGF concentration can be determined to diagnose the tumor progression. For tumors that do secrete large amount of VEGF into the plasma, plasma VEGF concentration can be determined to diagnose the tumor progression. After most known cancer treatments, VEGF levels are not affected, and therefore the plasma or tumor levels of VEGF do not predict efficacy of the treatment (i.e., progression of the cancer). Compounds of the present invention can affect VEGF levels, both in the plasma and tumor, and therefore measuring VEGF levels is an accurate way to monitor and/or predict the progression of the cancer (i.e., the efficacy of the treatment) when the methods of the present invention are used for treating cancer.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, methods for reducing tumor or plasma VEGF levels are provided, comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of at least one compound of the invention to a subject in need thereof. In this embodiment, VEGF levels can be measured in a tumor not treated with the compounds of the present invention and the VEGF levels compared to the VEGF levels measured in a tumor treated with the compounds of the present invention, thereby showing that by treatment of tumors with the compounds of the present invention VEGF levels are reduced.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, methods for treating a solid tumor cancer are provided, comprising (a) measuring one or more of serum VEGF levels, plasma VEGF levels, or tumor VEGF levels, and administering a therapeutically effective amount of at least one compound of the invention to a subject in need thereof. In an embodiment, VEGF concentration is measured to determine whether treatment with a compound of the present invention should be undertaken. In this aspect, treatment with a compound of the present invention is preferred and more effective as the VEGF levels increase.

In yet a further embodiment of the invention, methods for treating a solid tumor cancer are provided, comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of at least one compound of the invention to a subject in need thereof, together with one or more additional cancer agents.

In preferred embodiments, the methods of the invention comprise administering a therapeutically effective amount of at least one compound of the invention, wherein the compound is an (S) isomer.

According to the methods of the invention, the compound(s) may be administered to the subject via any drug delivery route known in the art. Specific exemplary administration routes include oral, ocular, rectal, buccal, topical, nasal, ophthalmic, subcutaneous, intramuscular, intravenous (bolus and infusion), intracerebral, transdermal, and pulmonary.

The terms “VEGF-inhibiting amount”, “anti-angiogenic amount”, and “therapeutically effective amount”, as used herein, refer to an amount of a pharmaceutical agent to treat, ameliorate, or prevent the identified disease or condition, or to exhibit a detectable therapeutic or inhibitory affect. The affect can be detected by, for example, the assays disclosed in the following examples. The precise effective amount for a subject will depend upon the subject's body weight, size, and health; the nature and extent of the condition; and the therapeutic or combination of therapeutics selected for administration. Therapeutically effective amounts for a given situation can be determined by routine experimentation that is within the skill and judgment of the clinician.

For any compound, the therapeutically effective amount can be estimated initially either in cell culture assays, e.g., of neoplastic cells, or in animal models, usually rats, mice, rabbits, dogs, or pigs. The animal model may also be used to determine the appropriate concentration range and route of administration. Such information can then be used to determine useful doses and routes for administration in humans. Therapeutic/prophylactic efficacy and toxicity may be determined by standard pharmaceutical procedures in cell cultures or experimental animals, e.g., ED₅₀ (the dose therapeutically effective in 50% of the population) and LD₅₀ (the dose lethal to 50% of the population). The dose ratio between therapeutic and toxic effects is the therapeutic index, and it can be expressed as the ratio, ED₅₀/LD₅₀. Pharmaceutical compositions that exhibit large therapeutic indices are preferred. The data obtained from cell culture assays and animal studies may be used in formulating a range of dosage for human use. The dosage contained in such compositions is preferably within a range of circulating concentrations that include an ED₅₀ with little or no toxicity. The dosage may vary within this range depending upon the dosage form employed, sensitivity of the patient, and the route of administration.

More specifically, the concentration-biological effect relationships observed with regard to the compound(s) of the present invention indicate an initial target plasma concentration ranging from approximately 0.1 μg/mL to approximately 100 μg/mL, preferably from approximately 0.5 μg/mL to approximately 50 μg/mL, more preferably from approximately 0.5 μg/mL to approximately 10 μg/mL. To achieve such plasma concentrations, the compounds of the invention may be administered at doses that vary from 0.1 μg to 100,000 mg/day, depending upon the route of administration. Guidance as to particular dosages and methods of delivery is provided in the literature and is generally available to practitioners in the art. In general the dose will be in the range of about 1 mg/day to about 10 g/day, or about 0.100 mg to about 3 g/day, or about 300 mg to about 3 g/day, or about 500 mg to about 2 g/day, in single, divided, or continuous doses for a patient or subject weighing between about 40 to about 100 kg (which dose may be adjusted for patients or subjects above or below this weight range, particularly children under 40 kg).

The dose administered to achieve an effective target plasma concentration may also be administered based upon the weight of the subject or patient. Doses administered on a weight basis may be in the range of about 0.01 mg/kg/day to about 100 mg/kg/day, or about 0.015 mg/kg/day to about 50 mg/kg/day, or about 0.02 mg/kg/day to about 10 mg/kg/day, or about 0.025 mg/kg/day to about 7.5 mg/kg/day, or about 0.03 mg/kg/day to about 5 mg/kg/day. In one embodiment, the dose may be from about 0.3 to about 0.48 mg/kg/day. In another embodiment, where daily doses are adjusted based upon the weight of the subject or patient, compounds of the invention may be formulated for delivery at about 0.02, 0.025, 0.03, 0.05, 0.06, 0.075, 0.08, 0.09. 0.10, 0.20, 0.25, 0.30, 0.50, 0.60, 0.75, 0.80, 0.90, 1.0, 1.10, 1.20, 1.25, 1.50, 1.75, 2.0, 5.0, 10, 25, 50, 75, or 100 mg/kg/day. Daily doses adjusted based upon the weight of the subject or patient may be administered as a single, divided, or continuous dose. In embodiments where a dose of compound is given more than once per day, it may be administered twice, thrice, or more per day.

Compounds of the invention may be advantageously administered over one or more days without causing significant side effects. Compounds of the invention administered over one or more days may reduce VEGF production induced by pathological events such as hypoxia or tumor transformation without causing a statistically significant reduction in normal plasma VEGF concentrations and associated problems. In some embodiments, the compounds maybe administered without reducing plasma VEGF below the lower limit of the normal physiological range for plasma VEGF. In other embodiments, the compounds maybe administered without reducing plasma VEGF below the lower limit of the normal physiological range for plasma VEGF of healthy adult mammals, or healthy adult human subjects. For the purpose of this invention, the lower limit of VEGF's normal physiological range in plasma may be about 10 pg/ml, or about 15 pg/ml or about 20 pg/ml or about 25 pg/ml in healthy mammalian or human subjects.

In one aspect, compounds of the invention are generally well tolerated by subjects. For example, the compounds can be administered by the oral route with no occurrences, or only mild to moderate occurrences, of nausea, productive cough, constipation, diarrhea, eye pruritus, headache, back pain, or insomnia in one or more subjects. For the purposes of this disclosure, mild or moderate occurrences may be described as those occurrences that would not prevent individual subjects or groups of subjects from continuing to receive the compounds.

Compounds of the invention may be advantageously administered over one or more days without raising safety concerns based upon hERG assays, Novascreen® assays, phosphatase and kinase panel assessments Similarly, no meaningful cytotoxicity is observed in lung fibroblast, skin fibroblast or bone marrow progenitor cell cytotoxicity testing. In some embodiments, compounds of the invention do not display mutagenecity in the Ames assay, chromosomal aberrations, polyploidy or endoreduplication in CHO cell assays, or clastogenic effects in rat micronucleus assays. In yet other embodiments, no negative cardiopulmonary effects are observed with single doses up to 140 mg/kg, no negative neuorological effects are observed with single doses up to 200 mg/kg, and no significant toxicity is observed at dose of 120 mg/kg QD or at doses of 60 mg/kg BID for 7 days.

Compounds of the invention may be advantageously administered without one or more negative effects observed with other compounds having VEGF inhibitory activity, such as anti VEGF antibodies (e.g., bevacizumab) and other compounds inhibiting VEGFR tyrosine kinase activity. Recognized side effects of bevacizumab include hypertension (see, e.g., Gordon et al., J. Clin. Oncol. 19(3) 843-850 (2001)), proteinuria (id.), and thromboemblism. Other inhibitors of VEGFR, (e.g., PTK787, sunitinib, and ZD6474) also induce a number of additional off-target effects including: light-headedness, ataxia, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, rash, subungual hemorrhage, myleosuppression, fatigue, hypothyroidism, QT interval prolongation or heart failure. Such effects appear to be due to nonspecific inhibition of tyrosine kinase receptors other than the VEGFR.

In some embodiments, the compounds of the invention may advantageously be administered without causing a substantial incidence of either proteinuria or hypertension. In other embodiments, the compounds of the invention may advantageously be administered without causing a substantial incidence of an increase in the grade of proteinuria. In other embodiments, the compounds of the invention may advantageously be administered without causing a substantial increase in blood pressure.

In some embodiments, a substantial incidence of proteinuria, an increase in the grade of proteinuria, or hypertension is the occurrence of those side effects in greater than about 20% of the subjects or patients treated. In other embodiments, a substantial incidence of either proteinuria or hypertension is the occurrence of either of those side effects in greater than 15% of the subjects or patients treated. In still other embodiments, a substantial incidence of either proteinuria or hypertension is the occurrence of those side effects in greater than 10%, or 5% or 2% or 1% of the subjects or patients treated. Compounds of the invention may cause minor transient changes in heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, and core body temperature. Such changes may remain within normal limits and may be observed at dosages of 30 mg/kg or greater.

For the purposes of this invention, a patient or subject is considered to have hypertension when their blood pressure is greater than 150 mm Hg/100 mm Hg (systolic/diastolic). For the purpose of this invention, hypertension is defined as an elevation of blood pressure of 20 mm Hg (diastolic), or blood pressure above 150 mm Hg/100 mm Hg (systolic/diastolic), for more than 24 hours during which time one or more compounds of the invention are present at or above a therapeutically effective concentration in the plasma of a subject.

For the purposes of this invention, proteinuria is defined as an elevation in the amount of protein found in the urine of a patient or subject outside of the normal range during the period a compound of the invention is present at or above a therapeutically effective concentration in the plasma of a subject. For example, proteinuria may be found when there is more than 0.15 grams of protein present in a 24 hour urine sample. Grade 1 proteinuria may be found when the amount of protein in a 24 hour urine sample is from 0.15 g to 1 g of protein in a 24 hour urine sample, Grade 2 proteinuria may be found when the amount of protein in a 24 hour urine sample is greater 1 g but less than 3.5 grams of protein in a 24 hour urine sample. Grade 3 proteinuria may be found when the amount of protein in a 24 hour urine sample is greater than 3.5 g of protein in a 24 hour urine sample. Grade 4 proteinuria equates to nephrotic syndrome. An elevation in the amount of protein found in the urine of a patient or subject outside of the normal range may also be found based upon dipstick measurements. A dipstick measurement of “1+” equates to grade 1 proteinuria, a measure of 2+ or 3+ equates to grade 2 proteinuria, and a dipstick measure of 4+ equates to grade 3 proteinuria.

For the purposes of this invention a patient or subject may be considered to have a risk of having a stroke when they have hypertension, and particularly when they have hypertension and a prior medical history of one or more strokes.

In some embodiments, the compounds of the invention may be administered without causing a substantial incidence of grade 1 proteinuria as measured by 24 hour urine analysis or by dipstick analysis of a urine sample. In other embodiments, compounds of the invention may be administered without causing a substantial incidence of grade 2 proteinuria as measured by 24 hour urine analysis or by dipstick analysis of a urine sample. In yet other embodiments, compounds of the invention may be administered without causing an increase in a the proteinuria status (e.g., the grade of proteinuria) of a patient from grade 1 proteinuria to grade 2 proteinuria, or from grade 2 proteinuria to grade 3 proteinuria, as measured by 24 hour urine analysis or by dipstick analysis of a urine sample.

In one embodiment the compounds of the invention are administered to patients having solid tumors that have one or more of high blood pressure (hypertension), proteinuria, or risk of having a stroke.

The exact dosage will be determined by the practitioner, in light of factors related to the subject that requires treatment. Dosage and administration are adjusted to provide sufficient levels of the active agent(s) or to maintain the desired effect. Factors which may be taken into account include the severity of the disease state, general health of the subject, age, weight, and gender of the subject, diet, time and frequency of administration, drug combination(s), reaction sensitivities, and tolerance/response to therapy. Long-acting pharmaceutical compositions may be administered every 3 to 4 days, every week, or once every two weeks depending on half-life and clearance rate of the particular formulation.

D. Metabolites of the Compounds of the Invention

Also falling within the scope of the present invention are the in vivo metabolic products of the compounds described herein. Such products may result for example from the oxidation, reduction, hydrolysis, amidation, esterification and the like of the administered compound, primarily due to enzymatic processes. Accordingly, the invention includes compounds produced by a process comprising contacting a compound of this invention with a mammalian tissue or a mammal for a period of time sufficient to yield a metabolic product thereof. Such products typically are identified by preparing a radio-labeled (e.g. C¹⁴ or H³) compound of the invention, administering it in a detectable dose (e.g., greater than about 0.5 mg/kg) to a mammal such as rat, mouse, guinea pig, monkey, or to man, allowing sufficient time for metabolism to occur (typically about 30 seconds to 30 hours), and isolating its conversion products from urine, blood or other biological samples. These products are easily isolated since they are labeled (others are isolated by the use of antibodies capable of binding epitopes surviving in the metabolite). The metabolite structures are determined in conventional fashion, e.g., by MS or NMR analysis. In general, analysis of metabolites may be done in the same way as conventional drug metabolism studies well-known to those skilled in the art. The conversion products, so long as they are not otherwise found in vivo, are useful in diagnostic assays for therapeutic dosing of the compounds of the invention even if they possess no biological activity of their own.

E. Pharmaceutical Compositions of the Invention

While it is possible for the compounds of the present invention to be administered neat, it may be preferable to formulate the compounds as pharmaceutical compositions. As such, in yet another aspect of the invention, pharmaceutical compositions useful in the methods of the invention are provided. The pharmaceutical compositions of the invention may be formulated with pharmaceutically acceptable excipients such as carriers, solvents, stabilizers, adjuvants, diluents, etc., depending upon the particular mode of administration and dosage form. The pharmaceutical compositions should generally be formulated to achieve a physiologically compatible pH, and may range from a pH of about 3 to a pH of about 11, preferably about pH 3 to about pH 7, depending on the formulation and route of administration. In alternative embodiments, it may be preferred that the pH is adjusted to a range from about pH 5.0 to about pH 8.0.

More particularly, the pharmaceutical compositions of the invention comprise a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of at least one compound of the present invention, together with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients. Optionally, the pharmaceutical compositions of the invention may comprise a combination of compounds of the present invention, or may include a second active ingredient useful in the treatment of cancer, diabetic retinopathy, or exudative macular degeneration.

Formulations of the present invention, e.g., for parenteral or oral administration, are most typically solids, liquid solutions, emulsions or suspensions, while inhalable formulations for pulmonary administration are generally liquids or powders, with powder formulations being generally preferred. A preferred pharmaceutical composition of the invention may also be formulated as a lyophilized solid that is reconstituted with a physiologically compatible solvent prior to administration. Alternative pharmaceutical compositions of the invention may be formulated as syrups, creams, ointments, tablets, and the like.

The term “pharmaceutically acceptable excipient” refers to an excipient for administration of a pharmaceutical agent, such as the compounds of the present invention. The term refers to any pharmaceutical excipient that may be administered without undue toxicity. Pharmaceutically acceptable excipients are determined in part by the particular composition being administered, as well as by the particular method used to administer the composition. Accordingly, there exists a wide variety of suitable formulations of pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention (see, e.g., Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences).

Suitable excipients may be carrier molecules that include large, slowly metabolized macromolecules such as proteins, polysaccharides, polylactic acids, polyglycolic acids, polymeric amino acids, amino acid copolymers, and inactive virus particles. Other exemplary excipients include antioxidants such as ascorbic acid; chelating agents such as EDTA; carbohydrates such as dextrin, hydroxyalkylcellulose, hydroxyalkylmethylcellulose, stearic acid; liquids such as oils, water, saline, glycerol and ethanol; wetting or emulsifying agents; pH buffering substances; and the like. Liposomes are also included within the definition of pharmaceutically acceptable excipients.

The pharmaceutical compositions of the invention may be formulated in any form suitable for the intended method of administration. When intended for oral use for example, tablets, troches, lozenges, aqueous or oil suspensions, non-aqueous solutions, dispersible powders or granules (including micronized particles or nanoparticles), emulsions, hard or soft capsules, syrups or elixirs may be prepared. Compositions intended for oral use may be prepared according to any method known to the art for the manufacture of pharmaceutical compositions, and such compositions may contain one or more agents including sweetening agents, flavoring agents, coloring agents and preserving agents, in order to provide a palatable preparation.

Pharmaceutically acceptable excipients particularly suitable for use in conjunction with tablets include, for example, inert diluents, such as celluloses, calcium or sodium carbonate, lactose, calcium or sodium phosphate; disintegrating agents, such as croscarmellose sodium, cross-linked povidone, maize starch, or alginic acid; binding agents, such as povidone, starch, gelatin or acacia; and lubricating agents, such as magnesium stearate, stearic acid or talc. Tablets may be uncoated or may be coated by known techniques including microencapsulation to delay disintegration and adsorption in the gastrointestinal tract and thereby provide a sustained action over a longer period. For example, a time delay material such as glyceryl monostearate or glyceryl distearate alone or with a wax may be employed.

Formulations for oral use may be also presented as hard gelatin capsules where the active ingredient is mixed with an inert solid diluent, for example celluloses, lactose, calcium phosphate or kaolin, or as soft gelatin capsules wherein the active ingredient is mixed with non-aqueous or oil medium, such as glycerin, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, peanut oil, liquid paraffin or olive oil.

In another embodiment, pharmaceutical compositions of the invention may be formulated as suspensions comprising a compound of the present invention in admixture with at least one pharmaceutically acceptable excipient suitable for the manufacture of a suspension. In yet another embodiment, pharmaceutical compositions of the invention may be formulated as dispersible powders and granules suitable for preparation of a suspension by the addition of suitable excipients.

Excipients suitable for use in connection with suspensions include suspending agents, such as sodium carboxymethylcellulose, methylcellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcelluose, sodium alginate, polyvinylpyrrolidone, gum tragacanth, gum acacia, dispersing or wetting agents such as a naturally occurring phosphatide (e.g., lecithin), a condensation product of an alkylene oxide with a fatty acid (e.g., polyoxyethylene stearate), a condensation product of ethylene oxide with a long chain aliphatic alcohol (e.g., heptadecaethyleneoxycethanol), a condensation product of ethylene oxide with a partial ester derived from a fatty acid and a hexitol anhydride (e.g., polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate); and thickening agents, such as carbomer, beeswax, hard paraffin or cetyl alcohol. The suspensions may also contain one or more preservatives such as acetic acid, methyl and/or n-propyl p-hydroxy-benzoate; one or more coloring agents; one or more flavoring agents; and one or more sweetening agents such as sucrose or saccharin.

The pharmaceutical compositions of the invention may also be in the form of oil-in-water emulsions. The oily phase may be a vegetable oil, such as olive oil or arachis oil, a mineral oil, such as liquid paraffin, or a mixture of these. Suitable emulsifying agents include naturally-occurring gums, such as gum acacia and gum tragacanth; naturally occurring phosphatides, such as soybean lecithin, esters or partial esters derived from fatty acids; hexitol anhydrides, such as sorbitan monooleate; and condensation products of these partial esters with ethylene oxide, such as polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate. The emulsion may also contain sweetening and flavoring agents. Syrups and elixirs may be formulated with sweetening agents, such as glycerol, sorbitol or sucrose. Such formulations may also contain a demulcent, a preservative, a flavoring or a coloring agent.

Additionally, the pharmaceutical compositions of the invention may be in the form of a sterile injectable preparation, such as a sterile injectable aqueous emulsion or oleaginous suspension. This emulsion or suspension may be formulated according to the known art using those suitable dispersing or wetting agents and suspending agents which have been mentioned above. The sterile injectable preparation may also be a sterile injectable solution or suspension in a non-toxic parenterally acceptable diluent or solvent, such as a solution in 1,2-propane-diol. The sterile injectable preparation may also be prepared as a lyophilized powder. Among the acceptable vehicles and solvents that may be employed are water, Ringer's solution, and isotonic sodium chloride solution. In addition, sterile fixed oils may be employed as a solvent or suspending medium. For this purpose any bland fixed oil may be employed including synthetic mono- or diglycerides. In addition, fatty acids such as oleic acid may likewise be used in the preparation of injectables.

Generally, the compounds of the present invention useful in the methods of the present invention are substantially insoluble in water and are sparingly soluble in most pharmaceutically acceptable protic solvents and in vegetable oils. However, the compounds are generally soluble in medium chain fatty acids (e.g., caprylic and capric acids) or triglycerides and have high solubility in propylene glycol esters of medium chain fatty acids. Also contemplated in the invention are compounds which have been modified by substitutions or additions of chemical or biochemical moieties which make them more suitable for delivery (e.g., increase solubility, bioactivity, palatability, decrease adverse reactions, etc.), for example by esterification, glycosylation, PEGylation, etc.

In a preferred embodiment, the compounds of the present invention may be formulated for oral administration in a lipid-based formulation suitable for low solubility compounds. Lipid-based formulations can generally enhance the oral bioavailability of such compounds. As such, a preferred pharmaceutical composition of the invention comprises a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of a compound of the present invention, together with at least one pharmaceutically acceptable excipient selected from the group consisting of: medium chain fatty acids or propylene glycol esters thereof (e.g., propylene glycol esters of edible fatty acids such as caprylic and capric fatty acids) and pharmaceutically acceptable surfactants such as polyoxyl 40 hydrogenated castor oil.

In an alternative preferred embodiment, cyclodextrins may be added as aqueous solubility enhancers. Preferred cyclodextrins include hydroxypropyl, hydroxyethyl, glucosyl, maltosyl and maltotriosyl derivatives of α-, β-, and γ-cyclodextrin. A particularly preferred cyclodextrin solubility enhancer is hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPBC), which may be added to any of the above-described compositions to further improve the aqueous solubility characteristics of the compounds of the present invention. In one embodiment, the composition comprises 0.1% to 20% hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin, more preferably 1% to 15% hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin, and even more preferably from 2.5% to 10% hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin. The amount of solubility enhancer employed will depend on the amount of the compound of the present invention in the composition.

F. Combination Therapy

It is also possible to combine any compound of the present invention with one or more other active ingredients or agents useful in the treatment of cancer, including compounds, in a unitary dosage form, or in separate dosage forms intended for simultaneous or sequential administration to a patient in need of treatment. When administered sequentially, the combination may be administered in two or more administrations. In an alternative embodiment, it is possible to administer one or more compounds of the present invention and one or more additional active ingredients by different routes.

The skilled artisan will recognize that a variety of active ingredients may be administered in combination with the compounds of the present invention that may act to augment or synergistically enhance the VEGF-inhibiting and/or anti-angiogenesis activity of the compounds of the invention.

More specifically, for methods involving the treatment of cancer, agents known in the art to be useful for treating cancer are provided. Such agents include, but are not limited to, radiation therapy, agents that cause DNA damage, agents that reduce the concentration or effect of a growth factor, agents that inhibit angiogenesis, paclitaxel, fluorouracil, CPT-11, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, a COX-2 inhibitor, thalidomide, gemcitabine, squalamine, endostatin, angiostatin, AE-941, lenalidomide, medi-522, 2-methoxyestradiol, carboxyamidotriazole, combretastatin A4 phosphate, SU6668, SU11248, BMS-275291, COL-3, cilengitide, IMC-1121B, vatalanib, LY317615, VEGF Trap, ZD6474, halofuginone, hydrobromide, celecoxib, interferon alpha, interleukin-12, and antibodies capable of binding VEGF or a VEGF receptor, such as bevacizumab. VEGF receptors include VEGF receptor 1, VEGF receptor 2, and VEGF receptor 3, and the neuropilins (e.g., neurophilin-1 (np-1) and neurorphilin-2 (np-2)). In another embodiment, the compounds of the present invention are used in combination with an agent that blocks the activity of a VEGF receptor. In yet another embodiment, the compounds of the present invention can be used in combination with agents that can block the VEGF signaling pathway. Treatment only with a factor that can block VEGF signaling may cause an increase in VEGF concentration. In such a case, including a compound of the present invention in the treatment protocol can prevent the subsequent increase in VEGF levels. Similarly, use of the compounds of the present invention in combination with an antibody is highly preferred. Antibodies are relatively large and may not cross tight barriers, allowing secreted VEGF to remain in areas such as the perivascular space. Post-transcriptional control of VEGF expression can prevent the tumor from retaining as much VEGF in the perivascular space, in the extracellular matrix, or in other spaces and vessels that have a physical barrier to antibodies.

According to the methods of the invention, the combination of active ingredients may be: (1) co-formulated and administered or delivered simultaneously in a combined formulation; (2) delivered by alternation or in parallel as separate formulations; or (3) by any other combination therapy regimen known in the art. When delivered in alternation therapy, the methods of the invention may comprise administering or delivering the active ingredients sequentially, e.g., in separate solution, emulsion, suspension, tablets, pills or capsules, or by different injections in separate syringes. In general, during alternation therapy, an effective dosage of each active ingredient is administered sequentially, i.e., serially, whereas in simultaneous therapy, effective dosages of two or more active ingredients are administered together. Various sequences of intermittent combination therapy may also be used.

To assist in understanding the present invention, the following Examples are included. The experiments relating to this invention should not, of course, be construed as specifically limiting the invention and such variations of the invention, now known or later developed, which would be within the purview of one skilled in the art are considered to fall within the scope of the invention as described herein and hereinafter claimed.

EXAMPLES

The present invention is described in more detail with reference to the following non-limiting examples, which are offered to more fully illustrate the invention, but are not to be construed as limiting the scope thereof. The examples illustrate the preparation of certain compounds of the invention, and the testing of these compounds in vitro and/or in vivo. Those of skill in the art will understand that the techniques described in these examples represent techniques described by the inventors to function well in the practice of the invention, and as such constitute preferred modes for the practice thereof. However, it should be appreciated that those of skill in the art should in light of the present disclosure, appreciate that many changes can be made in the specific methods that are disclosed and still obtain a like or similar result without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Example 1 Preparation of Compounds of the Invention

Using the schemes and procedures described above in Section B, one may prepare certain compounds of the invention as follows. Other preferred compounds of the invention, such as those in Table 5 below, may be similarly prepared.

Example 1A Compounds of Formula I, Scheme I

Certain compounds of Formula I may be prepared according to Scheme I using free amine products/intermediates, or their salts prepared in accordance with Procedure I. By way of example, certain free amines (III), or their salts are prepared using Procedure I. Table 4 illustrates certain free amines (III) or their salts, Intermediates 1-11. TABLE 4 (III)

Intermediate R - of Free Amine (III) R₁ - of Free Amine (III) 1 Cl 4-OMe 2 Cl 2,3-difluoro 3 Cl 4-Cl 4 Cl 4-CN 5 Cl 4-F 6 Cl 4-iPr 7 Br 4-Cl 8 Br 4-Me 9 Br 4-iPr 10 Br 3-Cl 11 Br 4-OMe 12 Cl 4-(2-morpholine-4-yl-ethoxy)

Intermediate-1:

This intermediate is prepared using Procedure-I with 5-chlorotryptamine.HCl (5.8 g, 25 mmol), p-anisaldehyde (6.13 mL, 50 mmol) and 0.1N sulfuric acid (60 mL) to give the title compound as an acid salt (6.1 g, 59%). ES-MS: 313 (M+H)⁺. Alternatively, this intermediate is prepared using Procedure-1B with 5-chlorotryptamine.HCl (20 g, 86.5 mmol), p-anisaldehyde (15.9 mL, 130 mmol) and acetic acid (250 mL) to give the title compound as an acid salt (25.8 g, 79%). ES-MS: 313 (M+H)⁺.

Intermediate-2:

This intermediate is prepared using Procedure-I with 5-chlorotryptamine.HCl (116 mg, 0.5 mmol), 2,3-difluoro benzaldehyde (109 μL, 1 mmol) and 0.1N sulfuric acid (2 mL) to give the title compound as an acid salt (158 mg, 75%). ES-MS: 319 (M+H)⁺

Intermediate-3:

This intermediate is prepared using Procedure-I with 5-chlorotryptamine.HCl (462 mg, 2 mmol), 4-chloro benzaldehyde (562 mg, 4 mmol) and 0.1N sulfuric acid (8 mL) to give the title compound as an acid salt (825 mg, 99%). ES-MS: 317 (M+H)⁺

Intermediate-4:

This intermediate is prepared using Procedure-I with 5-chlorotryptamine.HCl (462 mg, 2 mmol), 4-cyano benzaldehyde (525 mg, 4 mmol) and 0.1N sulfuric acid (8 mL) to give the title compound as an acid salt (810 mg, 100%). ES-MS: 308 (M+H)⁺

Intermediate-5:

This intermediate is prepared using Procedure-I with 5-chlorotryptamine.HCl (374 mg, 1.5 mmol), 4-fluoro benzaldehyde (322 μL, 3 mmol) and 0.1N sulfuric acid (4 mL) to give the title compound as an acid salt (250 mg, 42%). ES-MS: 301 (M+H)⁺

Intermediate-6:

This intermediate is prepared using Procedure-I with 5-chlorotryptamine.HCl (1.15 g, 5 mmol), 4-isopropyl benzaldehyde (1.516 mL, 10 mmol) and 0.1N sulfuric acid (12 mL) to give the title compound as an acid salt (628 mg, 30%). ES-MS: 325 (M+H)⁺

Intermediate-7:

This intermediate is prepared using Procedure-I with 5-bromotryptamine.HCl (551 mg, 2 mmol), 4-chloro benzaldehyde (562 mg, 4 mmol) and 0.1N sulfuric acid (8 mL) to give the title compound as an acid salt (330 mg, 36%). ES-MS: 363 (M+H)⁺

Intermediate-8:

This intermediate is prepared using Procedure-I with 5-bromotryptamine.HCl (551 mg, 2 mmol), p-tolualdehyde (471 μL, 4 mmol) and 0.1N sulfuric acid (8 mL) to give the title compound as hydrogen sulfate salt (257 mg, 29%). ES-MS: 341 (M+H)⁺. Alternatively, this intermediate is prepared using Procedure-1B with 5-bromotryptamine.HCl (10 g, 36.3 mmol), p-tolualdehyde (6.41 mL, 54.5 mmol) and acetic acid (120 mL) to give the title compound as acetate salt (14.5 g, 100%). ES-MS: 341 (M+H)⁺

Intermediate-9 (Compound 112):

This product/intermediate is prepared using Procedure-I with 5-bromotryptamine.HCl (551 mg, 2 mmol), 4-isopropyl benzaldehyde (606 μL, 4 mmol) and 0.1N sulfuric acid (8 mL) to give the title compound as hydrogen sulfate salt (329 mg, 35%). ES-MS: 369 (M+H)⁺. Alternatively, this intermediate is prepared using Procedure-1B with 5-bromotryptamine.HCl (10 g, 36.3 mmol), 4-isopropyl benzaldehyde (8.24 mL, 54.5 mmol) and acetic acid (120 mL) to give the title compound as acetate salt (13 g, 77%). ES-MS: 369 (M+H)⁺

Intermediate-10:

This intermediate is prepared using Procedure-I with 5-bromotryptamine.HCl (551 mg, 2 mmol), 3-chloro benzaldehyde (453 μL, 4 mmol) and 0.1N sulfuric acid (8 mL) to give the title compound as an acid salt (662 mg, 72%). ES-MS: 361 (M+H)⁺

Intermediate-11:

This intermediate is prepared using Procedure-I with 5-bromotryptamine.HCl (551 mg, 2 mmol), p-anisaldehyde (491 μL, 4 mmol) and 0.1N sulfuric acid (8 mL) to give the title compound as an acid salt (611 mg, 67%). ES-MS: 357 (M+H)⁺

Intermediate-12:

The 4-(2-Morpholin-4-yl-ethoxy)-benzaldehyde reaction intermediate is prepared by combining 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde (1.2 g, 10.0 mmol), 4-(2-chloroethyl)-morpholine hydrochloride (2.0 g, 11.0 mmol), potassium carbonate (4.1 g, 30.0 mmol), and potassium iodide (170 mg, 1 mmol) in 100 ml of acetone and heating to reflux with stirring. After all the 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde is consumed (48 hours by LC/MS), the solids are filtered and the solvent is removed in vacuo. The yield is 4.1 g.

Then Intermediate 12 is prepared in accordance with Procedure-1B. Thus, 5-Chlorotryptamine hydrochloride (231 mg, 1.0 mmol) is combined with 4-(2-Morpholin-4-yl-ethoxy)-benzaldehyde (565 mg, ˜1.2 mmol) in 3 mL of glacial acetic acid. The suspension is heated to about 120° C. for 10 minutes with constant cooling and a max power of 300 W using the CEM Explorer microwave system. Acetonitrile (2 mL) is added to the cooled reaction mixture, and the solid is filtered and washed with 1 mL of acetonitrile to produce the acetic acid salt of Intermediate 12 (6-Chloro-1-[4-(2-morpholin-4-yl-ethoxy)-phenyl]-2,3,4,9-tetrahydro-1H-β-carboline) (179 mg, 34%).

Intermediates 1-12 may then be used to prepare compounds of the invention according to Procedures II through VII as follows.

Compound 2:

This product is prepared by Procedure-II using the Intermediate-1 (3 g, 9.6 mmol), ethyl chloroformate (1.37 mL, 14.4 mmol) and DIEA (2.5 mL, 14.4 mmol) in dichloromethane (70 mL) to give the title compound as white powder (1.56 g, 42%). ES-MS: 385 (M+H)⁺.

Compound 4:

This product is prepared by Procedure-II using the Intermediate-7 (72 mg, 0.2 mmol), ethyl chloroformate (29 μL, 0.3 mmol) and DIEA (52 μL, 0.3 mmol) in dichloromethane (2 mL) to give the title compound as white powder (37 mg, 43%). ES-MS: 435 (M+H)⁺.

Compound 5:

This product is prepared by the Procedure-II using the Intermediate-2 (50 mg, 0.16 mmol), ethyl chloroformate (23 μL, 0.24 mmol) and DIEA (42 μL, 0.24 mmol) in dichloromethane (2 mL) to give the title compound as white powder (25 mg, 41%). ES-MS: 391 (M+H)⁺.

Compound 7:

This product is prepared by the Procedure-II using the Intermediate-9 (74 mg, 0.2 mmol), ethyl chloroformate (29 μL, 0.3 mmol) and DIEA (52 μL, 0.3 mmol) in dichloromethane (2 mL) to give the title compound as white powder (34 mg, 38%). ES-MS: 441 (M+H)⁺.

Compound 8:

This product is prepared by the Procedure-II using the Intermediate-8 (72 mg, 0.2 mmol), ethyl chloroformate (29 μL, 0.3 mmol) and DIEA (52 μL, 0.3 mmol) in dichloromethane (2 mL) to give the title compound as white powder (39 mg, 47%). ES-MS: 413 (M+H)⁺.

Compound 10:

This product is prepared by the Procedure-II using the Intermediate-1 acetate (10.5 g, 28.2 mmol), 4-chlorophenyl chloroformate (4.74 mL, 33.8 mmol) and DIEA (9.8 mL, 56.4 mmol) in dichloromethane (300 mL) to give the title compound as white powder (10.2 g, 78%). ES-MS: 467 (M+H)⁺.

Compound 11:

This product is prepared by the Procedure-II using the Intermediate-3 (63 mg, 0.2 mmol), ethyl chloroformate (29 μL, 0.3 mmol) and DIEA (52 μL, 0.3 mmol) in dichloromethane (2 mL) to give the title compound as white powder (31 mg, 40%). ES-MS: 389 (M+H)⁺.

Compound 12:

This product is prepared by the Procedure-II using the Intermediate-4 (31 mg, 0.1 mmol), 2-chloroethyl chloroformate (16 μL, 0.15 mmol) and DIEA (26 μL, 0.15 mmol) in dichloromethane (2 mL) to give the title compound as white powder (22 mg, 53%). ES-MS: 414 (M+H)⁺.

Compound 17:

This product is prepared by the Procedure-II using the Intermediate-1 (47 mg, 0.15 mmol), 4-methylphenyl chloroformate (33 μL, 0.23 mmol) and DIEA (39 μL, 0.23 mmol) in dichloromethane (2 mL) to give the title compound as white powder (34 mg, 51%). ES-MS: 447 (M+H)⁺.

Compound 23:

This product is prepared by the Procedure-II using the Intermediate-5 (30 mg, 0.1 mmol), ethyl chloroformate (14 μL, 0.15 mmol) and DIEA (26 μL, 0.15 mmol) in dichloromethane (2 mL) to give the title compound as white powder (21 mg, 56%). ES-MS: 373 (M+H)⁺.

Compound 25:

This product is prepared by the Procedure-VII using the Intermediate-9 (74 mg, 0.2 mmol), 2-bromopyrimidine (48 mg, 0.3 mmol) and triethylamine (42 μL, 0.3 mmol) in DMF (2 mL) to give the title compound (42 mg, 47%). ES-MS: 447 (M+H)⁺.

Compound 102:

This product is prepared by the Procedure-IIIb using the Intermediate-9 (74 mg, 0.2 mmol), acetic anhydride (47 μL, 0.5 mmol) and pyridine (41 μL, 0.5 mmol) in dichloromethane (2 mL) to give the title compound as white powder (31 mg, 38%). ES-MS: 411 (M+H)⁺.

Compound 140:

This product is prepared by the Procedure-IV using the Intermediate-10 (72 mg, 0.2 mmol), cyclohexyl isocyanate (26 μL, 0.2 mmol) and DIEA (37 μL, 0.21 mmol) in dichloromethane (2 mL) to give the title compound as white powder (51 mg, 53%). ES-MS: 486 (M+H)⁺.

Compound 166:

This product is prepared by the Procedure-IIIa using its free amine intermediate (141 mg, 0.5 mmol), Boc-L-Alanine (105 mg, 0.6 mmol), DIC (94 μL, 0.6 mmol), DIEA (105 μL, 0.6 mmol) and dichloromethane (4 mL) to give the title compound (105 mg, 46%). ES-MS: 420 (M+H)⁺.

Compound 225:

This product is prepared by the Procedure-VI using its free amine intermediate (78 mg, 0.2 mmol), methyl sulfonylchloride (16 μL, 0.2 mmol) and DIEA (37 μL, 0.21 mmol) and dichloromethane (2 mL) to give the title compound (32 mg, 34%). ES-MS: 461 (M+H)⁺.

Compound 242:

This product is prepared by the Procedure-V using its free amine intermediate (59 mg, 0.2 mmol), cyclohexyl isothiocyanate (29 μL, 0.2 mmol), DIEA (35 μL, 0.2 mmol) and dichloromethane (4 mL) to give the title compound (52 mg, 60%). ES-MS: 438 (M+H)⁺.

Compound 279:

This product is prepared by generating Intermediate 12 (6-Chloro-1-[4-(2-morpholin-4-yl-ethoxy)-phenyl]-2,3,4,9-tetrahydro-1H-p-carboline) using Procedure-I. Intermediate 12 is then used to generate Compound 279 (6-Chloro-1-[4-(2-morpholin-4-yl-ethoxy)-phenyl]-1,3,4,9-tetrahydro-b-carboline-2-carboxylic acid ethyl ester) using Procedure-II.

In accordance with Procedure-II, Intermediate 12 (82 mg, 0.20 mmol), ethyl chloroformate (24 mg, 21 μL, 0.22 mmol), and diisopropylethylamine (175 μL, 1.00 mmol) are dissolved in methylene chloride (2 mL) and stirred at room temperature for 15 minutes to form Compound 279. The solvent is removed under a stream of nitrogen. The crude mixture is purified by preparative reversed phase HPLC on a C-18 column using a gradient of acetonitrile in water buffered with 0.2% trifluoroacetic acid (TFA). The TFA salt of Compound 279 (3.7 mg, 3%) is isolated as a yellow solid. The same procedure may be applied for other carbamate formation reactions according to Procedure-II.

Compound 320:

This product/intermediate is prepared using Procedure-I with 5-benzyloxy tryptamine.HCl (100 mg, 0.33 mmol), pyridine-3-carboxaldehyde (62 μL, 0.66 mmol) and 0.1N sulfuric acid (2 mL) to give the title compound as dihydrogen sulfate salt (64 mg, 55%). ES-MS: 356 (M+H)⁺

Compound 329:

This product is prepared by the Procedure-VII using the Intermediate-11 (71 mg, 0.2 mmol), 2-bromopyrimidine (48 mg, 0.3 mmol) and triethylamine (42 μL, 0.3 mmol) in DMF (2 mL) to give the title compound (41 mg, 49%). ES-MS: 434 (M+H)⁺.

Compound 330:

This product is prepared by the Procedure-II using the Intermediate-6 (65 mg, 0.2 mmol), 2-fluoroethyl chloroformate (38 μL, 0.3 mmol) and DIEA (70 μL, 0.4 mmol) in dichloromethane (2 mL) to give the title compound as white powder (34 mg, 41%). ES-MS: 415 (M+H)⁺.

Compound 332:

This product is prepared by the Procedure-II using the Intermediate-7 (36 mg, 0.1 mmol), 4-methoxyphenyl chloroformate (22 μL, 0.15 mmol) and DIEA (26 μL, 0.15 mmol) in dichloromethane (2 mL) to give the title compound as white powder (41 mg, 81%). ES-MS: 511 (M+H)⁺.

Example 1B Certain Starting Materials, Scheme Ia

Scheme Ia can be used when in conjunction with Scheme I (above) to generate starting materials when R₂ is a —CH₂-furanyl group, as follows.

2-furaldehyde (0.05 mL, 1.1 eq) is added to a solution of 5-chlorotryptamine (114 mg, 0.586 mmol) in 2 mL of MeOH. The reaction mixture is stirred at room temperature for about 1 hour. NaBH₄ (110 mg, 5 eq) is added slowly. The reaction mixture is stirred at room temperature for about 30 min. MeOH is evaporated and the residue is partitioned between water and methylene chloride. The organic layer is separated and dried over K₂CO₃. The collected organic layer is concentrated to give 134.9 mg of viscous oil (84%).

Example 1C Compounds of Formula I, Scheme Ib

Alternatively, certain compounds of Formula I may be prepared according to Scheme Ib as follows.

A suspension of reaction material A (8.05 g, 35.9 mmol) and CH₃COONH₄ (4.15 g, 1.5 eq) in 60 mL of CH₃NO₂ is refluxed in oil bath at about 110° C. After about 30 minutes, the reaction mixture is cooled with ice-bath. The precipitated solid is filtered and washed with water (3×100 mL), followed by hexane (2×50 mL) to give crude indole product B. The collected solid is dried under vacuum at about 40° C. for about 30 min to give 6.97 g of brown solid (73%).

A solution of indole product B (12.32 g, 46.1 mmol) in THF (130 mL) is then treated with a solution of tetrabutylammonium borohydride (11.9 g, 1 eq) in 75 mL of THF slowly for about 60 minutes at about −5° C. The reaction is stirred at room temperature for about 1 hour and diluted with dichloromethane (200 mL). The organic layer is washed with water twice and brine. The combined organic layers are dried and evaporated under vacuum. The residue is purified on silica gel to give 10.28 g of solid C (83%).

Ammonium chloride (9.9 mL of aqueous solution (100 mg/mL), 2 eq) and Zn (725 mg, 1.2 eq) are then added to a solution of indole product C (2.49 g, 9.24 mmol) in 161 mL of THF. The reaction mixture is stirred at room temperature for about 10 min and Zn (725 mg, 1.2 eq) is then added. After about 30 min, additional Zn (967 mg, 1.6 eq) is added and stirred for about 2 hours, followed by the addition of further Zn (845 mg, 1.4 eq). After stirring at room temperature for about 15 min, Zn is filtered off and the residue is concentrated and dissolved in THF. The resulting solution is then treated with p-chlorobenzaldehyde (0.7 eq) and stirred at room temperature for about 15 hours. The reaction mixture is concentrated under vacuum and purified on silica gel to give 953.5 mg of the desired nitrone product D.

(+)-DIP-Cl (6.93 mL, 2 eq, 85.8 mg/mL in CH₂Cl₂) is then added to a solution of nitrone product D (350 mg, 0.93 mmol) in 60 mL of dichloromethane. The reaction mixture is stirred at about −78° C. for about 10 days and quenched with a mixture of 10% NaHCO₃ (7 mL) and 10 mL of water. The aqueous layer is extracted with dichloromethane three times. Combined organic layers are concentrated and purified on silica gel to give the desired hydroxylamine product E (>98% ee).

Water (11.5 mL), NH₄Cl (2.5 mL, 5 eq) and Zn (908 mg, 15 eq) are then added to a solution of hydroxylamine product E (0.927 mmol) in THF (28 mL). The reaction mixture is stirred at room temperature for about 1 day. Additional THF (10 mL), NH₄Cl (5 mL, 10 eq) and Zn (1.8 g, 30 eq) are then added and stirred for about another 21 hours. Again, THF (10 mL), NH₄Cl (5 mL, 10 eq) and Zn (1.8 g, 30 eq) are added and stirred for about another 20 hours. The reaction mixture is then filtered through celite and washed with MC. The collected dichloromethane layer is washed with water and brine. The organic layer is dried and concentrated to give a boron complex of beta-carboline. This product is dissolved in 20 mL of THF. This solution is loaded into prepacked cation exchange resin (preconditioned with MeOH and THF) and washed with THF. The combined THF solution is concentrated to give 390 mg of free amine. The solid is then washed with ether and hexane consecutively to yield 130 mg of the enantiomerically pure compound F.

Example 1D Compounds of Formula I, Scheme II

Compounds of Formula I-h may be prepared according to Scheme II as follows.

p-anisaldehyde (2.16 g, 15.9 mmol, 1.93 mL) is added to a suspension of 5-Bromotryptophan A (3 g, 10.6 mmol) in 100 mL of Acetic acid at room temperature. The reaction mixture is then heated to reflux at about 125° C. in silicon oil bath and maintained at that temperature for about 3 hours 20 minutes. The resultant solution is concentrated under vacuum. The residue is triturated with dichloromethane, diethyl ether and hexane to yield a powdery brown solid. The acetic salts of the intermediate product B is collected and washed with hexane three times.

The intermediate product B is suspended (70 mg, 0.174 mmol) in 2 mL of dichloromethane, and triethylamine (52.8 mg, 0.522 mmol), 5-methyl-2-aminothiazole (37.6 mg, 0.26 mmol) and PyBOP (135.8 mg, 0.26 mmol) is added to the suspension. The reaction mixture is stirred at room temperature for about 6 hour and quenched with sat. NaHCO₃ solution. The aqueous layer is extracted with dichloromethane. The combined organic layers are dried over K₂CO₃ and concentrated. Purification on silica gel with 40% ethyl acetate in hexane yields 8.1 mg of the desired amide C. LCMS [MH⁺] 498, Rt=2.54.

Example 1E Compounds of Formula I Scheme III

Compounds of Formula I-i may be prepared according to Scheme III as follows.

Tryptophan A (1.0 g, 5.0 mmol) and 3-methoxybenzaldehyde (670 μL, 5.5 mmol) are suspended/dissolved in acetonitrile (100 mL) and concentrated sulfuric acid (100 μL) is added. The reaction is heated to reflux until all the aldehyde was consumed (overnight). The solvent was removed in vacuo and the residue was dissolved in 5 mL of ethanol. The product was precipitated out with ether, filtered, and washed with 10 mL of ether. The desired β-carboline product/intermediate B (1-(3-Methoxy-phenyl)-2,3,4,9-tetrahydro-1H-β-carboline-3-carboxylic acid) is isolated as a beige solid (1.2 g, 76%). LC/MS RT=2.33 min. M/Z+323, 100%.

The β-carboline product/intermediate B (200 mg, 0.62 mmol) is then dissolved in 5 mL of dry THF and cooled to about 0° C. Lithium aluminum hydride (LAH) solution (1.2 mL, 1.0M in ether, 1.2 mmol) is added to the cooled reaction mixture under nitrogen. After the addition is complete (about 10 minutes), the reaction is allowed to warm to room temperature for about 4 hours. The reaction mixture is then cooled back to 0° C., and saturated sodium sulfate solution (750 μL) is added and the mixture stirred for about 5 minutes at 0° C. The reaction mixture is then filtered and washed with THF (100 mL). The solvent is removed in vacuo, and the crude product purified by preparative HPLC. The product C ([1-(3-Methoxy-phenyl)-2,3,4,9-tetrahydro-1H-b-carbolin-3-yl]-methanol) is isolated as a white solid (106 mg, 55%). LC/MS RT=2.25 min. M/Z+309, 100%.

Example 1F Chemical Resolution of Compounds of the Invention

Compounds of the invention may optionally be chemical resolved to enantiomerically pure compositions, preferably enantiomerically pure (S) isomer compositions as follows.

The racemic amine A (18.21 g, 58.2 mmol) is mixed with N-acetyl-L-phenylalanine (12.05 g, 58.2 mmol) in EtOH (1.28 L) and refluxed to get a clear solution. The solution is then allowed to cool to room temperature. After overnight standing, the precipitated solid is filtered and washed with EtOH (200 mL) to give the salt B (16.4 g). The salt B is taken in EtOAc (500 mL) and washed with aqueous 1N NaOH (300 mL×2) or NH₄OH (200 mL×2), dried and evaporated to give the S-isomer of the free amine C (7.4 g). The R-isomer is prepared by similar procedure using N-acetyl-D-phenylalanine.

Example 1G Further Exemplary Compounds of the Invention

By way of further non-limiting example, the following compounds (Table 5) may be prepared by similar methodology to that described above, as will be recognized by one of skill in the art. TABLE 5 Mass Reten. Spec Time Compound NMR (LCMS) (min)

(CDCl3, 400MHz), δ8.16(s, 1H), 7.48(s, 1H), 7.22(d, J=8.8Hz, 1H), 7.19(d, J=8.8Hz, 2H), 7.13 (d, J=8.8Hz, 1H), 6.94(s, 1H), 6.80(d, J=8.8Hz, 2H), 3.92-3.91 (m, 1H), 3.86(t, J=7.2Hz, 2H), 3.77(s, 3H), 3.46-3.39(m, 1H), 3.11-3.09(m, 1H), 2.91-2.83(m, 3H) 402.8 4.37

(CDCl3, 400MHz), δ8.29(s, 1H), 7.47-7.09(m, 10H), 6.98(s, 1H), 6.77(d, J=8.8Hz, 2H), 3.93(dd, J=13.6Hz and 4.8Hz, 1H), 3.82- 3.80(m, 2H), 3.77(s, 3H), 3.38- 3.30(m, 1H), 2.69-2.65(m, 1H), 2.53-2.45(m, 1H) 430.9 4.79

(CDCl3, 400MHz), δ8.21(s, 1H), 7.46(s, 1H), 7.22(d, J=8.4Hz, 1H), 7.17(d, J=8.4Hz, 2H), 7.12 (dd, J=8.4Hz and 2.0Hz, 1H), 6.92 (s, 1H), 6.77(d, J=8.4Hz, 2H), 3.94(dd, J=13.2Hz and 4.4Hz, 1H), 3.76(s, 3H), 3.65(s, 3H), 3.43-3.35(m, 1H), 2.87-2.62(m, 6H) 427.0 4.06

(CDCl3, 400MHz), δ8.23, 8.12(s, 1H), 7.48, 7.42(d, J=1.6Hz, 1.2Hz, 1H), 7.22-7.10(m, 4H), 6.94, 6.88(s, 1H), 6.79(d, J=8.8Hz, 2H), 5.48-5.45(m, 1H), 3.96-3.80(m, 1H), 3.77(s, 3H), 3.47-3.36(m, 1H), 3.08-2.77(m, 2H), 2.14, 2.09(s, 3H), 1.48, 1.41 (d, J=6.8Hz, 6.4Hz, 3H) 427.0 3.99

(CDCl3, 400MHz), δ7.87(s, 1H), 7.51(s, 1H), 7.47(dd, J=6.8Hz and 1.6Hz, 1H), 7.30-7.15(m, 6H), 6.98(b, 1H), 6.76(d, J=8.8Hz, 2H), 3.80(s, 3H), 3.77-3.74(m, 1H), 3.49-3.39(m, 1H), 2.93-2.82 (m, 2H) 469.0 5.27

(CDCl3, 400MHz), δ8.07(dd, J=7.6Hz and 1.2Hz, 1H), 7.74(s, 1H), 7.45-7.32(m, 4H), 7.18(d, J=8.4Hz, 1H), 7.12(dd, J=8.8Hz and 2.0Hz, 1H), 7.07(d, J=8.4Hz, 2H), 6.76(d, J=8.8Hz, 2H), 6.35 (s, 1H), 3.97(dd, J=14.8Hz and 5.2Hz, 1H), 3.77(s, 3H), 3.49-3.41 (m, 1H), 2.67(dd, J=15.6Hz and 3.2Hz, 1H), 2.57-2.53(m, 1H) 486.9 4.96

(CDCl3, 400MHz), δ7.95(s, 1H), 7.48(s, 1H), 7.30(d, J=8.4Hz, 2H), 7.23(d, J=8.8Hz, 1H), 7.16 (dd, J=8.8Hz and 1.6Hz, 1H), 7.05 (b, 3H), 6.86(d, J=8.4Hz, 2H), 3.80(s, 3H), 3.61(dd, J=13.6Hz and 5.2Hz, 1H), 3.52-3.44(m, 1H), 2.91-2.88(m, 1H), 2.78(dd, J=15.2Hz and 3.2Hz, 1H) 470.8 5.01

(CDCl3, 400MHz), δ8.09(s, 1H), 7.45(s, 1H), 7.21-7.17(m, 4H), 7.12(d, J=8.8Hz, 1H), 6.98(s, 1H), 6.91(d, J=4Hz, 1H), 6.80(s, 1H), 6.79(d, J=8.4Hz, 2H), 3.99 (s, 2H), 3.96(d, J=4.4Hz, 1H), 3.77(s, 3H), 3.43-3.38(m, 1H), 2.77-2.63(m, 2H) 436.9 4.66

(CDCl3, 400MHz), δ8.19, 8.16(s, 1H), 7.48, 8.42(s, 1H), 7.14-7.09 (m, 6H), 6.94(t, J=7.8Hz, 2H), 6.85(t, J=8.2Hz, 2H), 6.77(d, J=8.4Hz, 1H), 6.72(d, J=8.4Hz, 1H), 5.09-4.98(m, 1H), 4.39-4.17 (m, 1H), 3.77, 3.75(s, 3H), 3.41- 3.28(m, 1H), 3.02-2.65(m, 2H), 1.61-1.59(m, 3H) 461   4.92

(CDCl3, 400MHz), δ8.39(s, 1H), 7.48(s, 1H), 7.23(d, J=8.4Hz, 1H), 7.19(d, J=8.4Hz, 2H), 7.13 (dd, J=8.8Hz and 1.6Hz, 1H), 6.89 (s, 1H), 6.77(d, J=8.4Hz, 2H), 4.17(q, J=12.8Hz, 2H), 3.88(d, J=10Hz, 1H), 3.75(s, 3H), 3.41(s, 3H), 3.38-3.34(m, 1H), 2.95-2.81 (m, 2H) 385   3.79

(CD3OD, 400MHz), δ7.48-7.46 (m, 4H), 7.35(b, 1H), 7.23(d, J=8.8Hz, 1H), 7.07(dd, J=8.8Hz and 2.0Hz, 1H), 6.46(b, 1H), 4.35- 4.14(m, 5H), 3.52-3.47(m, 2H), 3.22-3.19(m, 7H), 2.98-2.93(m, 3H), 3.89(s, 6H), 2.67-2.63(m, 5H), 2.06-1.96(m, 2H), 1.31(t, J=7.2Hz, 3H) 538.3 4.29

(DMSO, 400MHz), δ11.00(s, 1H), 8.47(s, 2H), 7.67(s, 1H), 7.26(d, J=8.4Hz, 1H), 7.19(dd, J=8.8Hz and 2.0Hz, 1H), 6.26(b, 1H), 4.25 (b, 1H), 4.11(t, J=6.8Hz, 2H), 3.23-3.17(m, 1H), 2.86-2.81(m, 1H), 2.77-2.66(m, 1H), 2.50(b, 3H), 1.21(t, J=6.8Hz, 3H) 447.1 6.55

(CD3OD, 400MHz), δ8.43-8.41 (m, 4H), 7.63(d, J=1.2Hz, 1H), 7.22(d, J=8.8Hz, 1H), 7.19(dd, J=8.4Hz and 1.6Hz, 1H), 7.04(s, 1H), 6.67(t, J=4.8Hz, 1H), 5.01 (dd, J=14.0Hz and 3.6Hz, 1H), 3.29-3.26(m, 1H), 3.21(s, 6H), 2.91-2.86(m, 2H) 450.1 5.48

(DMSO, 400MHz), δ11.15, 11.05 (b, 1H), 7.53(d, J=1.6Hz, 1H), 7.29(d, J=8.8Hz, 1H), 7.20-7.18 (m, 6H), 7.06(dd, J=8.8Hz and 2H, 1H), 6.93(d, J=7.2Hz, 2H), 6.45-6.37(m, 1H), 4.30(b, 1H), 3.72(s, 3H), 3.18(b, 1H), 2.82(b, 2H) 451.3 3.99

(CD3OD, 400MHz), δ10.98(b, 1H), 7.49(d, J=2.0Hz, 1H), 7.34- 7.30(m, 5H), 7.25-7.21(m, 1H), 7.13(dd, J=8.8Hz and 2.0Hz, 1H), 4.81-4.79(m, 1H), 3.82-3.76(m, 1H), 3.54-3.49(m, 1H), 3.11-3.07 (m, 2H), 2.91-2.87(m, 2H), 2.59- 2.55(m, 1H), 2.24-2.20(m, 1H) 311.1 4.39

(CD3OD, 400MHz), δ7.61(s, 1H), 7.46(d, J=8.0Hz, 2H), 7.38(d, J=8.0Hz, 2H), 7.19(s, 2H), 6.47 (s, 1H), 4.32-4.19(m, 5H), 3.62(t, J=3.9Hz, 2H), 3.42(s, 1H), 3.19- 3.10(m, 3H), 2.29-2.76(m, 2H), 1.30(s, 3H) 486.6 3.45

(CD3OD, 400MHz), δ7.63(s, 1H), 7.49(d, J=8.4Hz, 2H), 7.42(d, J=8.4Hz, 2H), 7.19(s, 2H), 6.49 (b, 1H), 4.34-4.19(m, 4H), 3.60(b, 4H), 3.29-3.17(m, 6H), 2.89-2.75 (m, 2H), 1.36(t, J=7.2Hz, 3H), 1.30(b, 3H) 539.2 3.11

(CDCl3, 400MHz), δ8.56(b, 1H), 8.40(b, 2H), 7.68(s, 1H), 7.28(d, J=2.0Hz, 1H), 7.14(d, J=8.4Hz, 1H), 7.00(d, J=9.2Hz, 2H), 6.80 (d, J=8.4Hz, 2H), 6.48-6.38(m, 1H), 4.55-4.52(m, 1H), 3.81-3.74 (m, 4H), 3.24(s, 6H), 3.00-2.91 (m, 1H), 2.88-2.84(m, 1H) 522.2 5.05

(DMSO, 400MHz), δ11.00(s, 1H), 8.14(s, 2H), 7.64(s, 1H), 7.23(d, J=8.4Hz, 1H), 7.18(d, J=8.8Hz, 1H), 6.14(s, 1H), 4.23(b, 1H), 4.11-4.08(m, 2H), 3.14-3.10(m, 1H), 3.08(s, 6H), 2.81-2.77(m, 1H), 2.70-2.86(m, 1H), 1.21(t, J=6.8Hz, 3H) 444.3 3.95

(CD3OD, 400MHz), δ7.79(d, J=8.4Hz, 2H), 7.63(s, 1H), 7.37 (d, J=8.4Hz, 2H), 7.20(s, 2H), 6.51(b, 1H), 4.32-4.22(m, 3H), 3.54(s, 3H), 3.36(s, 2H), 3.30(s, 2H), 3.21-3.11(m, 1H), 2.90-2.77 (m, 2H), 1.32(s, 3H) 500.1 4.35

(CDCl3, 400MHz), δ7.98, 7.81(s, 1H), 7.42(s, 1H), 7.21(d, J=8.4Hz, 1H), 7.11(d, J=8.4Hz, 1H), 5.40-5.23(m, 3H), 4.55-4.35 (m, 1H), 4.20-4.11(m, 2H), 3.24- 3.13(m, 1H), 2.79-2.63(m, 2H), 2.22(d, J=6.8Hz, 2H), 2.08(b, 2H), 1.89-1.81(m, 2H), 1.30(b, 3H), 0.97(b, 3H) 361.2 5.95

(CD3OD, 400MHz), δ7.47(d, J=1.6Hz, 1H), 7.43(d, J=7.6Hz, 2H), 7.37(d, J=8.0Hz, 2H), 7.24 (d, J=8.8Hz, 1H), 7.06(dd, J=8.4Hz and 1.6Hz, 1H), 6.49(b, 1H), 4.35-4.21(m, 3H), 3.83(s, 4H), 3.19-3.10(m, 1H), 2.90-2.79 (m, 2H), 1.57(b, 6H), 1.32(s, 3H) 482.1 5.11

(CDCl3, 400MHz), δ8.48-8.09(m, 1H), 7.44-7.42(m, 1H), 7.24(t, J=9Hz, 1H), 7.11-7.09(m, 1H), 5.59-5.40(m, 1H), 4.54-4.34(m, 1H), 4.21-4.18(m, 2H), 3.23-3.13 (m, 1H), 2.87-2.81(m, 2H), 2.76- 263(m, 1H), 2.17(s, 3H), 2.12- 1.90(m, 2H), 1.42-1.24(m, 6H) 367.1 2.92

(CD3OD, 400MHz), δ8.62(d, J=4.4Hz, 2H), 8.59(s, 2H), 7.84 (s, 1H), 7.43-7.39(m, 2H), 7.24(s, 1H), 6.88(t, J=8.0Hz, 1H), 5.24- 5.20(m, 1H), 3.47-3.44(m, 1H), 3.16(s, 3H), 3.11-3.05(m, 2H) 436.2 5.25

(CDCl3, 400MHz), δ8.12(s, 1H), 7.45(s, 1H), 7.26(d, J=8Hz, 2H), 7.18(d, J=8.8Hz, 2H), 7.14-7.12 (m, 4H), 6.97(s, 1H), 6.78(d, J=8.8Hz, 2H), 3.89(dd, J=14Hz and 1.2Hz, 1H), 3.80-3.78(m, 5H), 3.41-3.33(m, 1H), 2.73(dd, J=15.2Hz and 3.2Hz, 1H), 2.64- 2.60(m, 1H) 464.9 5.11

(CD3OD, 400MHz), δ7.78(d, J=8.0Hz, 2H), 7.47(d, J=1.6Hz, 1H), 7.37(d, J=8.0Hz, 2H), 7.24 (d, J=8.4Hz, 1H), 7.06(dd, J=8.8Hz and 1.6Hz, 1H), 6.49(b, 1H), 4.31-4.05(m, 8H), 3.20-3.11 (m, 1H), 3.00-2.77(m, 4H), 1.94- 1.90(m, 2H), 1.54-1.45(m, 2H), 1.31(b, 3H), 1.25(t, J=7.2Hz, 3H) 553.1 6.13

(CD3OD, 400MHz), δ7.80(d, J=8.0Hz, 2H), 7.48(d, J=1.6Hz, 1H), 7.38(d, J=8.4Hz, 2H), 7.25 (d, J=8.8Hz, 1H), 7.07(dd, J=8.4Hz and 1.6Hz, 1H), 6.49(b, 1H), 4.31-4.21(m, 4H), 4.06(t, J=8.4Hz, 1H), 3.74(t, J=8.0Hz, 1H), 3.51(d, J=5.2Hz, 2H), 3.21- 3.11(m, 1H), 2.90-2.79(m, 2H), 2.26(s, 1H), 1.39(s, 3H), 1.32(s, 6H) 454.3 5.98

(CDCl3, 400MHz), δ8.29(b, 1H), 7.64(d, J=8.0Hz, 2H), 7.61(d, J=7.2Hz, 2H), 7.50-7.45(m, 5H), 7.39(d, J=7.6Hz, 1H), 7.33(d, J=7.6Hz, 2H), 7.19(d, J=8.8Hz, 1H), 7.14(dd, J=8.4Hz and 1.6Hz, 1H), 7.08(s, 1H), 6.84(d, J=8Hz, 2H), 3.87(d, J=9.2Hz, 1H), 3.79 (s, 3H), 3.45-3.40(m, 1H), 2.96- 2.94(m, 1H), 2.80-2.76(m, 1H) 493.0 5.71

(CD3OD, 400MHz), δ7.63(s, 1H), 7.48(d, J=8.4Hz, 2H), 7.42(d, J=8.0Hz, 2H), 7.20(s, 2H), 6.49 (b, 1H), 4.33-4.22(b, 3H), 3.89(t, J=5.2Hz, 2H), 3.50(b, 4H), 3.21- 3.11(m, 2H), 2.91-2.78(m, 2H), 1.31(s, 3H) 555.2 3.14

(CD3OD, 400MHz), δ7.47(d, J=2.0Hz, 1H), 7.39(s, 4H), 7.23 (d, J=8.8Hz, 1H), 7.06(dd, J=8.4Hz and 2.0Hz, 1H), 6.49(b, 1H), 4.35-4.21(m, 3H), 3.75(b, 2H), 3.53(t, J=5.4Hz, 2H), 3.44(b, 2H), 3.26-3.30(m, 4H), 3.22-3.13 (m, 1H), 2.89-2.78(m, 2H), 2.60(t, J=5.4Hz, 4H), 2.46(b, 2H), 1.32 (s, 3H) 525.2 5.07

(CDCl3, 400MHz), δ7.80, 7.75(s 1H), 7.43, 7.41(s, 1H), 7.21(d, J=8.4Hz, 1H), 7.10(d, J=8.0Hz, 1H), 5.43, 5.27(d, J=7.2Hz, 1H), 4.51-4.30(m, 1H), 4.21-4.10(m, 2H), 3.18(q, J=12.8Hz, 1H), 2.82- 2.76(m, 1H), 2.64-2.61(m, 1H), 1.82-1.76(m, 2H), 1.55-1.53(m, 1H), 1.29-1.24(m, 3H), 1.08(b, 3H), 0.98(d, J=6.8Hz, 3H) 335.3 5.52

(CD3OD, 400MHz), δ7.47(d, J=2.0Hz, 1H), 7.39(s, 4H), 7.23 (d, J=8.8Hz, 1H), 7.05(dd, J=8.4Hz and 2.0Hz, 1H), 6.49(b, 1H), 4.32-4.20(m, 3H), 3.76(b, 2H), 3.46(b, 2H), 3.21-3.13(m, 1H), 2.90-2.78(m, 2H), 2.54(b, 2H), 2.49-2.43(m, 4H), 1.32(b, 3H), 1.10(t, J=7.2Hz, 3H) 495.3 4.68

((CD3OD, 400MHz), δ7.61(s, 1H), 7.44(d, J=8.0Hz, 2H), 7.35 (d, J=8.0Hz, 2H), 7.20-7.16(m, 2H), 6.45(b, 1H), 4.28-4.14(m, 3H), 4.11(s, 2H), 3.47(s, 4H), 3.26(s, 4H), 3.19-3.12(m, 1H), 2.91(s, 3H), 2.88-2.79(m, 2H), 1.30(s, 3H) 511.2 4.99

(CD3OD, 400MHz), δ7.48(d, J=1.6Hz, 1H), 7.34(d, J=8.4Hz, 1H), 7.12(dd, J=8.8Hz and 2.0Hz, 1H), 4.68(s, 1H), 3.77-3.72(m, 1H), 3.47-3.44(m, 1H), 3.10-3.03 (m, 2H), 2.65-2.61(m, 1H), 1.25 (d, J=7.2Hz, 3H), 0.96(d, J=7.2Hz, 3H) 249.1 3.67

CD3OD, 400MHz), δ7.63(s, 1H), 7.48(d, J=8.0Hz, 2H), 7.42(d, J=8.0Hz, 2H), 7.20(s, 2H), 6.49 (b, 1H), 4.32-4.21(m, 3H), 3.50(b, 4H), 3.21-3.15(m, 3H), 2.92(s, 3H), 2.90-2.73(m, 2H), 1.32(s, 3H) 525.1 3.25

(CD3OD, 400MHz), δ7.78(d, J=8.0Hz, 2H), 7.63(s, 1H), 7.37 (d, J=8.4Hz, 2H), 7.20(s, 2H), 6.49(b, 1H), 4.31-4.22(m, 3H), 3.19-3.11(m, 1H), 2.90(s, 3H), 2.86-2.77(m, 2H), 1.32(s, 3H) 456.1 4.26

(CD3OD, 400MHz), δ7.48(d, J=2Hz, 1H), 7.41-7.36(m, 4H), 7.23(d, J=8.4Hz, 1H), 7.06(dd, J=8.8Hz and 2.0Hz, 1H), 6.49(b, 1H), 4.35-4.21(m, 3H), 3.64(b, 2H), 3.45(b, 2H), 3.20-3.11(m, 1H), 2.92-2.78(m, 2H), 2.68(b, 2H), 2.55(b, 2H), 1.92-1.80(m, 4H), 1.66-1.62(m, 1H), 1.32-1.22 (m, 8H) 549.3 5.29

(CD3OD, 400MHz), δ7.63(s, 1H), 7.41(d, J=8.4Hz, 2H), 7.37(d, J=8.0Hz, 2H), 7.19(s, 2H), 6.49 (b, 1H), 4.35-4.22(m, 3H), 3.22- 3.13(m, 1H), 3.08(s, 3H), 2.98(s, 3H), 2.89-2.77(m, 2H), 1.32(s, 3H) 470.1 4.46

(CD3OD, 400MHz), δ7.63(s, 1H), 7.48(d, J=7.2Hz, 2H), 7.40(d, J=8.0Hz, 2H), 7.20(s, 2H), 6.49 (b, 1H), 4.35-4.22(m, 4H), 3.82- 3.50(m, 6H), 3.45(b, 1H), 3.21- 3.11(m, 1H), 3.00-2.78(m, 5H), 2.25-2.15(m, 2H), 1.32(s, 3H) 539.2 3.02

(CDCl3, 400MHz), δ8.06 7.98(s, 1H), 7.50, 7.49(s, 1H), 7.22(d, J=6.0Hz, 1H), 7.21(d, J=6.4Hz, 2H), 7.15(dd, J=8.8Hz and 1.6Hz, 1H), 6.81(d, J=8.4Hz, 2H), 6.77 (s, 1H), 3.91(s, 3H), 3.77(s, 3H), 3.72(d, J=5.2Hz, 1H), 3.51-3.43 (m, 1H), 3.02-2.96(m, 1H), 2.86- 2.81(m, 1H) 398.9 4.18

(CDCl3, 400MHz), δ7.77, 7.70(s, 1H), 7.42, 7.39(s, 1H), 7.20(dd, J=8.4Hz and 1.6Hz, 1H), 7.09(d, J=8.0Hz, 1H), 5.52-5.36(m, 1H), 4.44-4.17(m, 3H), 3.28-3.20(m, 1H), 2.88-2.77(m, 1H), 2.60(d, J=15.2Hz, 1H), 2.05-1.88(m, 1H), 1.58-1.54(m, 1H), 1.30-1.26(m, 3H), 1.04(d, J=2Hz, 9H) 349.1 6.03

(CD3OD, 400MHz), δ7.85(d, J=8.0Hz, 2H), 7.64(s, 1H), 7.41 (d, J=8.4Hz, 2H), 7.20(s, 2H), 6.52(b, 1H), 4.33-4.22(b, 3H), 4.07(b, 2H), 3.77(t, J=5.6Hz, 4H), 3.65(b, 2H), 3.39(t, J=5.6Hz, 2H), 3.21-3.11(m, 3H), 2.91-2.78(m, 2H), 1.32(s, 3H) 555.2 3.34

(CD3OD, 400MHz), δ7.81(d, J=8.4Hz, 2H), 7.63(s, 1H), 7.37 (d, J=8.0Hz, 2H), 7.20(s, 2H), 6.51(b, 1H), 4.32-4.22(m, 3H), 3.69(t, J=5.8Hz, 2H), 3.48(t, J=5.6Hz, 2H), 3.21-3.11(m, 1H), 2.90-2.77(m, 2H), 1.32(s, 3H) 486.1 3.80

(CD3OD, 400MHz), δ7.47(s, 1H), 7.41-7.38(m, 4H), 7.23(d, J=8.8Hz, 1H), 7.06(dd, J=8.8Hz and 1.6Hz, 1H), 6.49(b, 1H), 4.35- 4.21(m, 3H), 3.73-3.62(m, 6H), 3.44(b, 2H), 3.19-3.10(m, 1H), 2.91-2.78(m, 2H), 1.32(b, 3H) 468   5.52

(DMSO, 400MHz), δ11.19(b, 1H), 8.49(b, 1H), 7.81(d, J=8.0Hz, 2H), 7.51(d, J=1.6Hz, 1H), 7.30 (d, J=8.4Hz, 2H), 7.29(d, J=14.0Hz, 1H), 7.07(dd, J=8.4Hz and 1.6Hz, 1H), 6.39(b, 1H), 4.21- 4.16(m, 3H), 3.93(t, J=6.4Hz, 1H), 3.74(q, J=6.8Hz, 1H), 3.59 (q, J=6.8Hz, # 1H), 3.28(s, 2H), 3.08-3.01(m, 1H), 2.81-2.70(m, 2H), 1.91-1.79(m, 3H), 1.59-1.52 (m, 1H), 1.21(s, 3H) 482.2 5.74

(CD3OD, 400MHz), δ11.05(s, 1H), 8.09(s, 2H), 7.64(s, 1H), 7.32(b, 1H), 7.24(d, J=8.4Hz, 1H), 7.17(dd, J=8.8Hz and 2.0Hz, 1H), 6.24(s, 1H), 4.22(b, 1H), 4.12-4.09(m, 2H), 3.15-3.09(m, 1H), 2.83-2.65(m, 5H), 1.21(t, J=6.8Hz, 3H) 430.2 3.65

(CD3OD, 400MHz), δ7.49(d, J=1.6Hz, 1H), 7.34(d, J=8.8Hz, 1H), 7.13(dd, J=8.8Hz and 2.0Hz, 1H), 3.77-3.72(m, 1H), 3.52-3.45 (m, 1H), 3.15-3.01(m, 2H), 2.80- 2.74(m, 2H), 2.60-2.52(m, 1H), 2.27-2.20(m, 4H) 281.0 3.84

(CDCl3, 400MHz), δ8.35(b, 1H), 7.51(s, 1H), 7.32-7.26(m, 4H), 7.20(d, J=8.4Hz, 1H), 7.13(dd, J=8.8Hz and 2.4Hz, 1H), 6.39(b, 1H), 4.25-4.21(m, 2H), 3.80(b, 2H), 3.47(b, 2H), 3.16-3.10(m, 1H), 2.96-2.88(m, 3H), 2.79-2.75 (m, 1H), 2.54-2.36(m, 6H), 1.32 (s, 3H) 481.4 4.81

(DMSO, 400MHz), δ10.86(s, 1H), 8.17(s, 1H), 8.03(d, J=7.6Hz, 1H), 7.81(t, J=8.0Hz, 1H), 7.65(d, J=8.4Hz, 1H), 7.50(b, 2H), 7.26 (d, J=8.4Hz, 1H), 7.02(d, J=8.8Hz, 1H), 6.24(s, 1H), 4.35 (b, 1H), 4.09-4.05(m, 2H), 3.61- 3.49(m, 1H), 2.78-2.65(m, 2H), 1.45(t, J=6.8Hz, 3H) 423.3 5.15

(CD3OD, 400MHz), δ8.33(s, 2H), 7.67(s, 1H), 7.23(s, 2H), 7.05(d, J=8.4Hz, 2H), 6.91(d, J=8.8Hz, 2H), 6.54-6.38(m, 1H), 4.52(b, 1H), 3.78(s, 3H), 3.36-3.34(m, 1H), 2.99(s, 3H), 2.92-2.88(m, 2H) 508.2 5.72

(CDCl3, 400MHz), δ7.88-7.77(m, 1H), 7.43(d, J=8.0Hz, 1H), 7.23 (d, J=8.8Hz, 1H), 7.11(d, J=8.8Hz 1H), 5.70-7.68(m, 2H), 5.19-4.97 (m, 1H), 4.60-4.38(m, 1H), 4.19- 4.07(m, 2H), 2.28-2.80(m, 1H), 2.68-2.64(m, 1H), 2.29-1.84(m, 6H), 1.55-1.46(m, 1H), 1.36-1.24 (m, 3H) 359.1 5.65

(CD3OD, 400MHz), δ7.84(d, J=8.0Hz, 2H), 7.63(s, 1H), 7.38 (d, J=8.0Hz, 2H), 7.20(s, 2H), 6.49(b, 1H), 4.31-4.22(m, 3H), 3.19-3.11(m, 1H), 2.89-2.77(m, 2H), 1.32(s, 3H) 442.0 4.06

(CD3OD, 400MHz), δ8.44(s, 2H), 7.67(d, J=2.0Hz, 1H), 7.44(d, J=8.8Hz, 1H), 7.28(dd, J=8.8Hz and 2.0Hz, 1H), 6.52(s, 1H), 4.58- 4.55(m, 1H), 4.43-4.40(m, 2H), 3.41-3.31(m, 1H), 3.15(s, 3H), 3.03-3.01(m, 2H), 1.32(b, 3H) 386.3 5.32

(CDCl3, 400MHz), δ7.66(d, J=24.8Hz, 1H), 7.39-6.89(m, 8H), 5.44-5.02(m, 1H), 4.49-4.10(m, 3H), 3.23-2.94(m, 2H), 2.83-2.74 (m, 1H), 2.64-2.58(m, 1H), 2.26- 1.98(m, 2H), 1.47-1.26(m, 6H) 397.1 5.97

(CD3OD, 400MHz), δ7.80(d, J=8.4Hz, 2H), 7.47(d, J=1.6Hz, 1H), 7.38(d, J=8.0Hz, 2H), 7.24 (d, J=8.8Hz, 1H), 7.07(dd, J=8.0Hz and 1.6Hz, 1H), 6.49(b, 1H), 4.35-4.21(m, 3H), 3.69(t, J=4.6Hz, 4H), 3.53(t, J=6.8Hz, 2H), 3.19-3.10(m, 1H), 2.90-2.78 (m, 2H), 2.59(t, J=6.6Hz, 4H), 2.53(s, 2H), 1.32(s, 3H) 511.4 5.05

(CDCl3, 400MHz), δ8.09, 7.83(s, 1H), 7.42(s, 1H), 7.21(d, J=8.4Hz, 1H), 7.09(dd, J=8.4Hz and 1.2Hz, 1H), 5.33-5.21(m, 1H), 4.50-4.34(m, 1H), 4.21-4.10(m, 2H), 3.19-3.17(m, 1H), 2.77-2.74 (m, 1H), 2.67-2.61(m, 1H), 1.81 (s, 2H), 1.52(s, 2H), 1.29-1.23(m, 3H), 0.96(s, 3H) 321.4 5.19

(CDCl3, 400MHz), δ7.73-7.52(m, 1H), 7.47(s, 1H), 7.42-7.18(m, 6H), 7.09(dd, J=8.8Hz and 2.0Hz, 1H), 5.41-5.26(m, 1H), 4.56-4.32 (m, 1H), 4.23-4.10(m, 2H), 3.21 (b, 1H), 2.85-2.72(m, 3H), 2.65(d, J=14.2Hz, 1H), 2.23-2.10(m, 2H), 1.38(b, 3H) 383.1 5.75

(CD3OD, 400MHz), δ7.80(d, J=8.4Hz, 2H), 7.47(d, J=1.6Hz, 1H), 7.37(d, J=8.0Hz, 2H), 7.24 (d, J=8.8Hz, 1H), 7.06(dd, J=8.8Hz and 2.0Hz, 1H), 6.50(b, 1H), 4.32-4.21(m, 3H), 3.47(t, J=7.2Hz, 2H), 3.38-3.34(m, 4H), 3.19-3.10(m, 1H), 2.89-2.78(m, 2H), 2.39(t, J=8.4Hz, 2H), 2.09- 2.00(m, 2H), 1.86-1.80(m, 2H), 1.32(b, 3H) 523.1 5.69

(CDCl3, 400MHz), δ7.81(s, 1H), 7.51(d, J=6.8Hz, 1H), 7.29(dd, J=12.0Hz and 2.8Hz, 1H), 7.21(d, J=8.4Hz, 1H), 7.13(dd, J=8.4Hz and 2.0Hz, 1H), 7.12-7.08(m, 1H), 7.07(s, 1H), 6.50(b, 1H), 4.49- 4.21(m, 3H), 3.17-3.09(m, 1H), 2.91-2.85(m, 1H), 2.77-2.73(m, 1H), 1.39(s, 3H) 361.1 5.12

(CD3OD, 400MHz), δ7.47(d, J=2.0Hz, 1H), 7.46-7.37(m, 4H), 7.23(d, J=8.4Hz, 1H), 7.06(dd, J=8.8Hz and 2.0Hz, 1H), 6.49(b, 1H), 4.35-4.21(m, 3H), 3.77-3.69 (m, 2H), 3.55-3.45(m, 2H), 3.20- 3.11(m, 1H), 2.90-2.78(m, 3H), 2.67-2.55(m, 3H), 2.39-2.31(m, 3H), 2.01-1.95(m, 1H), 1.82-1.79 (m, 1H), 1.32(s, 3H) 495.3 4.67

(CDCl3, 400MHz), δ7.92, 7.82(s, 1H), 7.42(s, 1H), 7.22(dd, J=8.4Hz and 1.2Hz, 1H), 7.10(d, J=8.8Hz, 1H), 5.31, 5.19(s, 1H), 4.52, 4.32(d, J=10.8Hz, 1H), 4.20- 4.12(m, 2H), 3.19-3.12(m, 1H), 2.81-2.62(m, 2H), 1.81(d, J=6.8Hz, 2H), 1.48-22(m, 12H), 0.88(s, 3H) 363.5 6.34

(CD3OD, 400MHz), δ7.63(s, 1H), 7.50(d, J=8.0Hz, 2H), 7.40(d, J=8.0Hz, 2H), 7.20(s, 2H), 6.49 (b, 1H), 4.30-4.20(m, 3H), 3.89(s, 2H), 3.45(b, 2H), 3.20-3.10(m, 1H), 3.03-3.01(m, 9H), 2.91-2.80 (m, 2H), 1.32(s, 3H) 527.1 3.16

(CD3OD, 400MHz), δ8.27(s, 2H), 7.52(d, J=2Hz, 1H), 7.27(d, J=8.8Hz, 1H), 7.17(d, J=8.8Hz, 1H), 7.10(dd, J=8.8Hz and 2.4Hz, 1H), 7.05(d, J=8.8Hz, 2H), 6.95 (d, J=9.2Hz, 2H), 6.92(s, 1H), 6.58-6.38(m, 1H), 4.52(b, 1H), 3.80(s, 1H), 3.79(s, 3H), 3.31- 3.30(m, 1H), 2.95(s, 3H), 2.92- 2.88(m, 1H) 464.2 5.86

(CD3OD, 400MHz), δ8.49, 8.29 (d, J=4.4Hz, 2.8Hz, 1H), 7.82, 7.70(t, J=2.0Hz, 1H), 7.46(s, 1H), 7.38-7.23(m, 5H), 7.15(d, J=7.6Hz, 1H), 7.07(d, J=8.4Hz, 1H), 6.98(d, J=6.8Hz, 1H), 6.46 (b, 1H), 4.35-4.21(m, 3H), 3.88(t, J=7.0Hz, 1H), 3.71-3.67(m, 1H), 3.20-3.11(m, 3H), 3.01-2.80(m, 4H), 1.32(s, 3H) 517.6 5.03

(DMSO, 400MHz), δ11.15(s, 1H), 7.51(d, J=2.0Hz, 1H), 7.42(t, J=7.6Hz, 1H), 7.35(d, J=7.6Hz, 1H), 7.30(d, J=8.8Hz, 2H), 7.16 (s, 1H), 7.06(dd, J=8.4Hz and 2.0Hz, 1H), 6.36(b, 1H), 4.18-4.10 (m, 3H), 3.09-3.00(m, 1H), 2.91- 2.64(m, 8H), 1.21(t, J=6.6Hz, 3H) 426.2 4.29

(CD3OD, 400MHz), δ7.81(d, J=8.4Hz, 2H), 7.47(d, J=1.6Hz, 1H), 7.39(d, J=8.4Hz, 2H), 7.24 (d, J=8.4Hz, 1H), 7.07(dd, J=8.4Hz and 2.0Hz, 1H), 6.50(b, 1H), 4.35-4.29(m, 3H), 3.70-3.60 (m, 1H), 3.51-3.47(m, 2H), 3.37- 3.29(m, 1H), 3.19-3.11(m, 2H), 2.92(s, 3H), 2.88-2.78(m, # 2H), 2.51-2.41(m, 1H), 2.29-2.20(m, 1H), 2.17-2.00(m, 2H), 1.89-1.78 (m, 2H), 1.32(s, 3H) 509.4 4.99

(CDCl3, 400MHz), δ7.91, 7.72(s, 1H), 7.50-7.43(s, 1H), 7.22-7.06 (m, 6H), 5.28-5.19(m, 1H), 4.64- 4.45(m, 1H), 4.20(b, 2H), 3.27- 3.10(m, 2H), 2.91-2.72(m, 2H), 2.70-2.66(m, 1H), 2.49-2.28(m, 2H), 1.38-1.24(m, 9H), 1.01, 0.96 (d, J=6.8Hz, 3H) 439.0 6.11

(DMSO, 400MHz), δ11.10(s, 1H), 8.42(s, 1H), 7.75(d, J=7.2Hz, 1H), 7.67(s, 1H), 7.51(d, J=1.6Hz, 1H), 7.43(t, J=7.2Hz, 1H), 7.35(d, J=8.0Hz, 1H), 7.29 (d, J=8.4Hz, 1H), 7.06(dd, J=8.8Hz and 2.4Hz, 1H), 6.39(b, 1H), 4.13-4.09(m, 3H), 3.10-3.04 (m, 1H), 2.81-2.72(m, 5H), 1.21 (s, 3H) 412.1 4.13

(CD3OD, 400MHz), δ7.53-7.46 (m, 4H), 7.29(b, 1H), 7.25(d, J=8.8Hz, 1H), 7.08(dd, J=8.8Hz and 2.0Hz, 1H), 6.49(b, 1H), 4.34- 4.23(m, 3H), 3.53-3.42(m, 2H), 3.18-3.12(m, 5H), 2.91-2.74(m, 3H), 1.32(t, J=7.2Hz, 6H) 4.95.3  3.46

(CD3OD, 400MHz), δ7.63(s, 1H), 7.51(d, J=8.0Hz, 2H), 7.41(d, J=8.4Hz, 2H), 7.19(d, J=1.2Hz, 2H), 6.46(b, 1H), 4.31(s, 2H), 4.23-4.20(m, 3H), 3.62-3.50(m, 4H), 3.19-3.11(m, 1H), 2.92(s, 6H), 2.87-2.81(m, 2H), 2.76(s, 3H), 1.31(s, 3H) 513.2 4.43

(CD3OD, 400MHz), δ7.47(d, J=2Hz, 1H), 7.46-7.37(m, 4H), 7.24(d, J=8.8Hz, 1H), 7.07(d, J=8.8Hz and 2.0Hz, 1H), 6.49(b, 1H), 4.75(b, 1H), 4.35-4.21(m, 3H), 3.85(b, 1H), 3.64(b, 2H), 3.45-3.37(m, 1H), 3.19-3.12(m, 4H), 2.91-2.80(m, 3H), 2.28-2.00 (m, 6H), 2.12-2.05(m, 2H), 1.61 (b, 2H), 1.32(s, 3H) 535.3 4.94

(CDCl3, 400MHz), δ7.89-7.69(m, 1H), 7.43(b, 1H), 7.33-7.30(m, 2H), 7.20-7.06(m, 4H), 5.29-5.19 (m, 1H), 4.64-4,45(m, 1H), 4.20 (b, 2H), 3.27-3.10(m, 2H), 2.91- 2.72(m, 2H), 2.70-2.66(m, 1H), 2.50(b, 2H), 2.29(b, 1H), 1.32- 1.31(m, 12H), 1.02, 0.90(d, J=6.8Hz, 3H) 453.0 6.30

(CD3OD, 400MHz), δ7.52-7.45 (m, 4H), 7.31(b, 1H), 7.25(d, J=8.4Hz, 1H), 7.08(dd, J=8.4Hz and 2.0Hz, 1H), 6.48(b, 1H), 4.34- 4.23(m, 3H), 3.45(b, 3H), 3.23- 3.13(m, 4H), 2.92-2.80(m, 5H), 1.32(s, 3H) 481.3 3.43

(CD3OD, 400MHz), δ7.48(d, J=1.6Hz, 1H), 7.43(d, J=8.4Hz, 2H), 7.40(d, J=8.4Hz, 2H), 7.24 (d, J=8.4Hz, 1H), 7.07(dd, J=8.4Hz and 2.0Hz, 1H), 6.50(b, 1H), 4.35-4.29(m, 3H), 3.90(b, 1H), 3.52-3.47(m, 3H), 3.20-3.16 (m, 2H), 3.01(t, J=12.0Hz, 2H), 2.91-2.79(m, 3H), 2.20(b, # 1H), 2.00-1.97(m, 3H), 1.82-1.71(m, 6H), 1.56-1.48(m, 1H), 1.32(b, 3H) 549.6 5.21

(DMSO, 400MHz), δ11.39(s, 1H), 9.80(b, 1H), 9.40(b, 1H), 7.52(d, J=1.6Hz, 1H), 7.48(s, 1H), 7.37- 7.31(m, 4H), 7.25-7.19(m, 1H), 7.00(dd, J=8.8Hz and 2Hz, 1H), 4.76(d, J=5.6Hz, 1H), 3.61-3.53 (m, 1H), 3.25-3.20(m, 1H), 2.94- 2.92(m, 2H), 2.13-1.97(m, 1H), 1.35, 1.24(d, J=6.8Hz, 3H) 325.3 4.75

(CD3OD, 400MHz), δ8.89(s, 1H), 7.80(d, J=8.0Hz, 2H), 7.71(d, J=1.2Hz, 1H), 7.57(s, 1H), 7.47 (d, J=1.6Hz, 1H), 7.39(d, J=8.0Hz, 2H), 7.24(d, J=8.4Hz, 1H), 7.07(d, J=8.0Hz, 1H), 6.51 (b, 1H), 4.32(t, J=4.8Hz, 3H), 4.23-4.21(m, 2H), 3.43(t, J=6.4Hz, 2H), 3.20-3.11(m, 1H), 2.91-2.78(m, 2H), 2.23-2.17(m, 2H), 1.32(b, 3H) 506.2 4.96

CD3OD, 400MHz), δ7.79(d, J=8.4Hz, 2H), 7.48(s, 1H), 7.38 (d, J=8.0Hz, 2H), 7.25(d, J=8.8Hz, 1H), 7.07(dd, J=8.4Hz and 2.0Hz, 1H), 6.51(b, 1H), 4.35- 4.21(m, 3H), 3.67(t, J=4.6Hz, 4H), 3.41(q, J=4.8Hz, 2H), 3.20- 3.11(m, 1H), 2.91-2.79(m, 2H), 2.62(s, 1H), 2.46-2.42(m, 5H), 1.83-1.79(m, 2H), 1.32(s, 3H) 525.2 4.76

(CD3OD, 400MHz), δ7.62(s, 1H), 7.49(d, J=8.0Hz, 2H), 7.39(d, J=8.4Hz, 2H), 7.19(s, 2H), 6.48 (s, 1H), 4.27-4.18(m, 5H), 3.87(t, J=4.6Hz, 4H), 3.47(t, J=6.8Hz, 2H), 3.34-3.30(m, 2H), 3.16-3.12 (m, 5H), 2.89-2.75(m, 2H), 1.30 (s, 3H) 541.2 3.51

(CD3OD, 400MHz), δ7.60(s, 1H), 7.51(d, J=8.0Hz, 2H), 7.40(d, J=8.0Hz, 2H), 7.21-7.16(m, 2H), 6.46(b, 1H), 4.41(s, 2H), 4.28- 4.19(m, 3H), 3.79-3.74(m, 4H), 3.51-3.49(m, 4H), 3.19-3.11(m, 1H), 2.95(s, 3H), 2.88-2.75(m, 2H), 2.30(s, 2H), 1.30(s, 3H) 525.2 4.42

(CD3OD, 400MHz), δ7.84(d, J=8.0Hz, 2H), 7.47(d, J=2.0Hz, 1H), 7.37(d, J=8.4Hz, 2H), 7.24 (d, J=8.4Hz, 1H), 7.06(dd, J=8.4Hz and 2.0Hz, 1H), 6.49(b, 1H), 4.35-4.16(m, 3H), 3.21-3.10 (m, 1H), 2.90-2.71(m, 2H), 1.32 (b, 3H) 398.1 3.95

(CDCl3, 400MHz), δ7.92-7.77(m, 1H), 7.42-7.39(m, 8H), 7.26-7.21 (m, 1H), 7.10(d, J=8.4Hz, 1H), 5.16-4.97(m, 1H), 4.56-4.36(m, 1H), 4.19-4.11(m, 2H), 3.27-3.19 (m, 1H), 2.78-2.63(m, 2H), 1.90 (d, J=5.6Hz, 1H), 1.74(b, 1H), 1.49-1.26(m, 4H), 1.10-0.91(m, 6H) 335.2 5.45

(CD3OD, 400MHz), δ7.82(s, 1H), 7.80(s, 1H), 7.55-7.48(m, 3H), 7.23(d, J=8.4Hz, 1H), 7.07(dd, J=8.4Hz and 2.0Hz, 1H), 6.49(b, 1H), 4.33-4.21(m, 3H), 4.05(b, 2H), 3.5-3.73(m, 4H), 3.61(b, 2H), 3.37(t, J=5.8Hz, 2H), 3.25- 3.17(m, 3H), 2.92-2.80(m, 2H), 1.32(s, 3H) 511.3 3.56

(CDCl3, 400MHz), δ8.01, 7.91(s, 1H), 7.43(s, 1H), 7.23(d, J=8.4Hz, 1H), 7.11(d, J=7.2Hz, 1H), 6.71(d, J=7.6Hz, 1H), 6.63 (s, 1H), 6.57(d, J=7.6Hz, 1H), 5.92(s, 2H), 5.18-5.07(m, 1H), 4.63-4.41(m, 1H), 4.30-4.11(m, 2H), 3.36-3.31(m, 1H), 2.91-2.83 (m, 2H), 2.70-2.61(m, 1H), 2.38- 2.15(m, 2H), 1.38-1.30(m, 3H), 1.09-1.01(m, 3H) 440.9 5.75

(CD3OD, 400MHz), δ7.76(s, 1H), 7.75(s, 1H), 7.52-7.43(m, 2H), 7.23(d, J=8.4Hz, 1H), 7.06(d, J=7.6Hz, 1H), 6.47(b, 1H), 4.30- 4.21(m, 3H), 3.52(s, 4H), 3.33(s, 3H), 3.26-3.18(m, 1H), 2.91-2.80 (m, 2H), 1.32(s, 3H) 456.1 4.21

(CD3OD, 400MHz), δ7.48(s, 1H), 7.46(d, J=8.8Hz, 2H), 7.40(d, J=7.6Hz, 2H), 7.24(d, J=8.4Hz, 1H), 7.07(d, J=8.0Hz, 1H), 6.49 (b, 1H), 4.35-4.21(m, 3H), 3.64- 3.61(m, 2H), 3.20-3.11(m, 3H), 3.01(s, 3H), 2.93(s, 5H), 2.89- 2.78(m, 3H), 2.12-2.05(m, 2H), 1.32(s, 3H) 497.2 4.69

(CDCl3, 400MHz), δ8.17, 8.00(s, 1H), 7.50(s, 1H), 7.23-7.13(m, 4H), 6.97, 6.92(s, 1H), 6.80(d, J=8.4Hz, 2H), 4.43, 4.34(t, J=7.0Hz, 1H), 4.04-3.98(m, 1H), 3.77(s, 3H), 3.47-3.41(m, 1H), 3.25-2.81(m, 2H), 2.23-2.06(m, 2H), 1.02(t, J=6.2Hz, 3H) 460.8 4.96

(DMSO, 300MHz), δ7.63(s, 1H), 7.49(d, J=6.3Hz, 2H), 7.42(d, J=6.0Hz, 2H), 7.20(s, 2H), 6.49 (s, 1H), 4.32-4.21(m, 3H), 3.85(b, 4H), 3.39-3.30(m, 3H), 3.26-3.15 (m, 5H), 2.92-2.73(m, 9H), 2.26- 2.20(m, 2H), 1.31(s, 3H) 596.3 4.45

(CD3OD, 400MHz), δ7.52(d, J=8.4Hz, 2H), 7.47(s, 1H), 7.39- 7.36(m, 2H), 7.24(d, J=8.8Hz, 1H), 7.06(dd, J=8.4Hz and 1.6Hz, 1H), 6.49(b, 1H), 4.45-4.23(m, 4H), 3.84-3.45(m, 4H), 3.20-3.12 (m, 1H), 2.91-2.78(m, 2H), 2.25- 2.10(m, 1H), 1.98-1.89(m, 4H), 1.32(s, 3H) 509.2 5.18

(CD3OD, 400MHz), δ7.52-7.45 (m, 4H), 7.32(b, 1H), 7.25(d, J=8.4Hz, 1H), 7.08(dd, J=8.4Hz and 1.6Hz, 1H), 6.49(b, 1H), 4.34- 4.23(m, 4H), 3.69(s, 3H), 3.31- 3.30(m, 8H), 3.21-3.12(m, 3H), 2.91-2.74(m, 2H), 1.32(s, 3H) 525.3 3.52

(CD3OD, 400MHz), δ7.51-7.48 (m, 3H), 7.40(d, J=8.0Hz, 2H), 7.24(d, J=8.8Hz, 1H), 7.07(dd, J=8.4Hz and 1.2Hz, 1H), 6.49(b, 1H), 4.35-4.21(m, 3H), 3.89(b, 2H), 3.45(b, 2H), 3.19-3.10(m, 1H), 3.05-3.01(m, 9H), 2.91-2.78 (m, 2H), 1.32(b, 3H) 483.1 4.96

(CD3OD, 400MHz), δ7.47(d, J=1.6Hz 1H), 7.35(d, J=8.4Hz, 1H), 7.12(dd, J=8.4Hz and J=2.0Hz, 1H), 4.87(s, 1H), 3.75- 3.72(m, 1H), 3.50-3.47(m, 1H), 3.09-3.03(m, 2H), 2.22(dd, J=15.6Hz and J=2.4Hz, 1H), 1.84 (dd, J=15.6Hz and 8.4Hz, 1H), 1.17(s, 9H) 276.9 4.00

(CD3OD, 400MHz), δ7.48(d, J=1.6Hz, 1H), 7.41-7.32(m, 3H), 7.23(d, J=8.4Hz, 2H), 7.07(dd, J=8.4Hz and 2.0Hz, 1H), 6.46(b, 1H), 4.32-4.17(m, 3H), 3.80(s, 2H), 3.67(t, J=5.0Hz, 2H), 3.39(s, 3H), 3.30-15(m, 6H), 2.88-2.83 (m, 6H), 1.32(s, 3H) 511.4 4.71

(DMSO, 400MHz), δ11.39(d, J=2.8Hz, 1H), 9.75(s, 1H), 9.34 (s, 1H), 7.53(s, 1H), 7.36(dd, J=8.4Hz and 4.0Hz, 1H), 7.10(dd, J=8.8Hz and 2.0Hz, 1H), 4.82- 4.71(m, 1H), 3.62-3.56(m, 1H), 3.14(b, 1H), 3.00-2.83(m, 2H), 2.35-2.23(m, 1H), 2.18-1.82(m, 4H), 1.34(q, J=6.4Hz, 3H) 295.0 4.14

Example 2 Assay to Evaluate Affect on Hypoxia-Inducible Endogenous VEGF Expression

The ability of the compounds of the invention to modulate hypoxia-inducible endogenous VEGF expression may be analyzed as follows. VEGF protein levels may be monitored by an ELISA assay (R&D Systems). Briefly, HeLa cells may be cultured for 24-48 hours under hypoxic conditions (1% O₂, 5% CO₂, balanced with nitrogen) in the presence or absence of a compound of the invention. The conditioned media may then be assayed by ELISA, and the concentration of VEGF calculated from the standard ELISA curve of each assay.

A dose-response analysis may be performed using the ELISA assay and conditions described above. The conditions for the dose-response ELISA are analogous to those described above. A series of, e.g., seven different concentrations may be analyzed. In parallel, a dose-response cytotoxicity assay may be performed using Cell Titer Glo (Promega) under the same conditions as the ELISA to ensure that the inhibition of VEGF expression was not due to the cytotoxicity. Dose-response curves may be plotted using percentage inhibition versus concentration of the compound, and EC₅₀ and CC₅₀ values may be generated for each compound with the maximal inhibition set as 100% and the minimal inhibition as 0%. Preferred compounds of the invention will have an EC₅₀ of less than 50, preferably less than 10, more preferably less than 2, even more preferably less than 0.5, and even more preferably less than 0.01.

FIG. 1 shows the ability of a typical compound of the invention, Compound No. 7, to inhibit endogenous VEGF production in tumor cells under hypoxic conditions. The ELISA EC₅₀ is 0.0025 μM, while its CC₅₀ (50% cytotoxicity) is greater than 0.2 μM. The EC₅₀ for a series of preferred compounds of the invention is provided in Table 6. TABLE 6 LCMS Retention Compound LCMS [M + H] Time (min) ELISA EC50 μM 1 391.20 3.67 **** 2 385.28 4.01 ***** 3 479.18 4.35 ***** 4 435.23 4.28 ***** 5 391.28 4.05 ***** 6 425.28 4.07 ***** 7 443.28 4.61 ***** #8 415.26 4.25 ***** 9 431.25 4.07 ***** #10 467.15 4.51 ***** 11 389.24 4.24 ***** 12 414.31 3.94 ***** 13 411.24 4.89 ***** 14 397.22 4.57 ***** 15 457.3 4.24 ***** 16 435.19 4.47 ***** 17 447.14 4.44 ***** 18 431.14 4.55 ***** 19 437.26 4.54 ***** 20 389.24 4.22 ***** 21 391.28 4.04 ***** 22 425.28 4.11 ***** 23 373.23 4.04 ***** 24 411.24 4.8 ***** 25 449.23 4.03 ***** 26 437.15 4.52 ***** 27 399.25 4.11 ***** 28 399.19 4.2 ***** 29 435.09 4.14 ***** 30 413.22 4.42 ***** 31 423.17 4.32 ***** 32 467.25 4.26 ***** 33 457.15 4.29 ***** 34 383.19 4.42 ***** 35 425.28 4.14 ***** 36 383.2 4.37 ***** 37 423.3 4.24 ***** 38 355.24 4.07 ***** 39 391.28 4.12 ***** 40 403.15 4.45 ***** 41 449.11 4.59 ***** 42 383.19 4.44 ***** 43 371.31 3.89 ***** 44 479.18 4.35 ***** 45 394.16 4.09 ***** 46 421.19 4.22 **** 47 449.07 4.54 **** 48 403.32 4.2 **** 49 403.15 4.51 **** 50 405.18 3.81 **** 51 373.23 4.11 **** 52 355.3 4.07 **** 53 375.26 3.92 **** 54 435.23 4.3 **** 55 425.27 4.26 **** 56 414.14 4.19 **** 57 399.19 4.2 **** 58 469.22 4.32 **** 59 444.12 4.12 **** 60 433.17 4.27 **** 61 419.28 4.04 **** 62 409.14 4.22 **** 63 435.09 4.16 **** 64 435.12 4.27 **** 65 387.2 3.95 **** 66 414.17 4.24 **** 67 429.3 4.47 **** 68 359.19 3.89 **** 69 449.08 4.55 **** 70 375.25 4.19 **** 71 394.16 4.12 **** 72 403.15 4.49 **** 73 381.09 3.59 **** #74 400.15 4.05 **** 75 387.22 4.29 **** 76 449.26 4.3 **** 77 391.28 4.19 **** 78 435.12 4.24 **** 79 437.19 4.49 **** 80 437.2 3.84 **** 81 375.03 3.57 **** 82 391.28 4.05 **** 83 425.28 4.16 **** 84 359.22 3.95 **** 85 437.15 4.44 **** 86 399.19 4.22 **** 87 403.15 4.44 **** 88 399.19 4.17 **** 89 434.07 4.04 **** 90 387.23 4.26 **** 91 369.27 4.17 **** 92 377.29 4.04 **** 93 435.23 4.29 **** 94 369.17 4.24 **** 95 449.06 4.51 **** 96 341.27 3.89 **** 97 387.19 4.2 **** 98 405.18 3.79 **** 99 469.22 4.29 **** 100 461.32 4.61 **** 101 369.17 4.26 **** 102 413.28 4.02 **** 103 407.1 4.05 **** 104 375.27 4.11 **** 105 387.21 4.19 **** 106 373.18 4.04 **** 107 385.28 4.02 **** 108 359.16 3.92 **** 109 369.34 4.16 **** 110 374.24 3.07 **** 111 386.19 3.89 **** 112 369.27 2.63 **** 113 399.13 4.01 **** 114 389.3 4.05 **** 115 435.13 4.14 **** 116 407.16 4.09 **** 117 419.28 4.05 **** 118 366.29 3.79 **** 119 521.19 4.16 **** 120 380.31 3.92 **** 121 403.32 4.27 **** 122 383.31 4.37 **** 123 319.2 2.19 **** 124 351.14 2.53 *** 125 409.3 4.14 *** 126 423.3 3.95 *** 127 371.31 3.9 *** 128 371.31 3.62 *** 129 449.13 3.81 *** 130 401.23 3.56 *** 131 385.22 3.74 *** 132 363.06 2.31 *** 133 385.15 3.86 *** 134 377.3 4.04 *** 135 397.15 2.42 *** 136 443.33 4.11 *** 137 361.07 2.53 *** 138 345.07 3.15 *** 139 400.27 4.01 *** 140 488.23 4.36 *** 141 425.21 4.37 *** 142 462.15 4.11 *** 143 369.23 3.74 *** 144 415.33 3.84 *** 145 361.3 4.39 *** 146 400.21 3.81 *** 147 438.21 3.97 *** 148 469.01 4.42 *** 149 425.25 4.24 *** 150 504.2 4.68 *** 151 397.01 2.44 *** 152 369.21 3.59 *** 153 372.21 2.36 *** 154 377.29 3.97 *** 155 363.11 2.32 *** 156 341.21 2.46 *** 157 407.14 1.78 *** 158 428.11 3.85 *** 159 351.13 2.47 *** 160 450.15 3.95 *** 161 363.05 2.32 *** 162 325.26 2.66 *** 163 319.2 2.24 *** 164 462.19 3.87 *** 165 371.31 3.65 *** 166 354.28 (-Boc) 3.95 *** 167 432.16 3.87 *** 168 351.08 2.4 *** 169 385.35 4.09 *** 170 351.07 2.51 *** 171 363.09 2.68 ** 172 384.21 3.52 ** 173 319.2 2.24 ** 174 N/A 2.38 ** 175 443.33 4.09 ** 176 417.30 2.77 ** 177 398.17 3.67 ** 178 363.11 2.31 ** 179 450.14 3.89 ** 180 421.19 2.65 ** 181 363.15 2.46 ** 182 419.14 4.14 ** 183 389.29 4.14 ** 184 431.27 4.1 ** 185 328.02 2.41 ** 186 462.19 3.81 ** 187 443.28 3.99 ** 188 446.19 3.81 ** 189 405.19 3.8 ** 190 317.16 2.7 ** 191 369.23 3.89 ** 192 495.28 4.89 ** 193 297.2 2.53 ** 194 319.21 2.19 ** 195 494.25 2.79 ** 196 419.22 4.09 ** 197 317.16 2.41 ** 198 317.08 2.53 ** 199 448.24 3.95 ** 200 363.09 2.45 ** 201 365.09 2.36 ** 202 464.2 4.32 ** 203 301.18 2.27 ** 204 429.23 3.57 ** 205 301.15 2.27 ** 206 476.3 4.33 ** 207 395.17 2.55 ** 208 367.36 2.72 ** 209 353.33 3.97 ** 210 313.21 2.33 ** 211 415.26 4.07 ** 212 389.2 2.88 ** 213 407.1 2.46 ** 214 357.07 2.48 ** 215 319.23 2.24 ** 216 283.1 2.41 ** 217 418.17 3.62 ** 218 435.23 3.77 ** 220 308.23 2.37 ** 221 460.29 4.05 ** 222 365.11 2.52 ** 223 441.02 2.6 ** 224 341.27 2.6 ** 225 467.25 4.18 ** 226 369.34 4.01 ** 227 327.16 2.26 ** 228 369.34 2.64 ** 229 373.29 4.04 * 230 401.23 3.2 * 231 313.12 2.43 * 232 433.25 2.73 * 233 430.38 (-Boc) 4.34 * 234 351.17 2.4 * 235 351.25 3.79 * 236 379.35 2.74 * 237 439.11 4.41 * 238 479.24 3.77 * 239 328.16 2.35 * 240 307.27 3.87 * 241 523.19 3.7 * 242 438.27 4.14 * 243 323.20 3.49 * 244 512 2.27 * 245 485 2.62 * 246 498 2.54 * 247 471 2.36 * 248 283.23 2.24 * 249 339.17 3.07 * 250 355.30 3.57 * 251 297.26 2.26 * 252 341.21 2.44 * 253 301.27 2.29 * 254 301.25 2.27 * 255 281.31 2.2 * 256 345.2 2.26 * 257 335.21 2.34 * 258 459.27 3.72 * 259 479.24 3.52 * 260 287.26 2.36 * 261 287.26 2.56 * 262 380.24 3.92 * 263 503.50 3.20 * 264 369.36 2.52 * 265 355.26 2.54 * 266 355.26 2.42 * 267 370.22 3.61 * 268 355.26 2.42 * 269 355.27 2.37 * 270 370.23 3.19 * 271 369.34 2.62 * 272 374.31 2.90 * 273 492.25 2.76 * 274 451.30 3.17 * 275 374.31 2.61 * 276 374.31 2.72 * 277 349.28 1.5 * 278 457.28 4.11 * 279 ***** 280 407.10 3.92 * 281 508.15 4.74 * 282 507.08 4.42 * 283 422.32 3.86 * 284 373.29 4.01 * 285 385.24 2.25 * 286 297.2 2.52 * 287 289.22 2.48 * 288 461.26 2.57 * 289 380.29 3.82 * 290 396.27 3.60 * 291 299.17 2.43 * 292 385.18 2.6 * 293 413.22 3.8 * 294 340.25 2.27 * 295 404.34 3.84 * 296 299.17 2.23 * 297 326.24 2.4 * 298 235.13 2.18 * 299 351.16 2.62 * 300 401 2.57 * 301 313.21 2.35 * 302 398.28 3.74 * 303 355.22 2.58 * 304 440.32 4.09 * 305 341.08 2.48 * 306 364.3 3.65 * 307 350.32 3.35 * 308 432.27 3.92 * 309 474.26 3.02 **** 310 289.03 2.35 * 311 345.19 2.58 * 312 420.28 4.12 * 313 279.28 2.18 * 314 293.24 2.20 * 315 297.26 2.17 * 316 472.26 3.85 * 317 428.25 3.95 * 318 309 2.25 * 319 284.09 2.1 * 320 356.21 2.37 * 321 279.2 2.1 * 322 279.2 1.76 * 323 309.23 1.82 * 324 280.19 1.76 * 325 279.2 1.76 * 326 263.17 1.93 * 327 343.18 2.33 * 328 ˜0.005 4.16 * 329 0.0036 4.26 * 330 0.0047 4.24 * 331 ˜0.010 2.94 * #332 ˜0.010 4 * 333 410.27 3.64 ** 334 426.24 3.39 * 335 466.23 4.64 *** 336 438.31 4.31 ** 337 454.24 4.63 *** 338 474.32 4.33 ** 339 412.3 3.83 * 340 446.33 4.49 * 341 447.26 4.25 *** 342 371.31 3.88 *** 343 371.31 3.61 * 344 459.31 4.91 **** 345 383.35 4.44 **** 346 587 4.04 **** 347 451.16 3.93 ***** 348 479.28 4.13 ***** 349 481.21 3.74 **** 350 462.17 3.66 ***** 351 471.17 3.93 **** 352 403.29 3.98 **** 353 497.16 3.94 ***** 354 525.2 4.19 ***** 355 511.21 3.81 ***** 356 490.3 3.93 ** 357 534.23 3.93 *** 358 433.2 3.45 *** 359 511.25 3.64 *** 360 516 3.82 **** 361 474.26 3.02 **** 362 427 4.2 ***** 363 412.4 1.80 * 364 484.3 2.49 ***** 365 457.3 4.06 *** 366 553.3 4.42 * 367 402.8 4.37 **** 368 430.9 4.79 ** 369 427.0 4.06 ** 370 427.0 3.99 ***** 371 469.0 5.27 *** 372 486.9 4.96 * 373 470.8 5.01 *** 374 436.9 4.66 *** 375 461 4.92 ** 376 385 3.79 ** 377 n/d n/d * 378 n/d n/d * 379 n/d n/d * 380 n/d n/d * 381 n/d n/d * 382 n/d n/d * 383 417.2 4.93 ***** 384 403.22 4.65 ***** 385 509.51 2.57 **** 386 465.26 2.52 ***** 387 465.26 2.52 ***** 388 495.4 3.94 ***** 389 538.3 4.29 ***** 390 480.5 3.23 ***** 391 562.55 3.63 ***** 392 443.4 3.88 ***** 393 447.1 6.55 ***** 394 450.1 5.48 ***** 395 481.32 3.51 ***** 396 411.3 3.99 ***** 397 535.3 4.29 ***** 398 481.3 4.23 ***** 399 429.3 3.81 ***** 400 493.3 4.43 ***** 401 451.3 3.99 ***** 402 494.4 3.71 ***** 403 479.3 4.23 ***** 404 473.6 3.78 ***** 405 551.17 4.58 ***** 406 425.4 4.13 ***** 407 457.4 4.04 ***** 408 425.4 4.09 ***** 409 477.4 4.18 ***** 410 451.3 3.99 ***** 411 443.4 3.86 ***** 412 473.4 4.23 ***** 413 459.3 4.16 ***** 414 439.4 4.31 ***** 415 637.64 2.82 ***** 416 311.1 4.39 ***** 417 562.47 4.15 ***** 418 511.3 4.13 ***** 419 491.4 3.98 ***** 420 486.6 3.45 ***** 421 553.30 4.05 ***** 422 359.29 4.17 ***** 423 447.4 3.56 ***** 424 594.2 [M − H] 4.58 ***** 425 539.2 3.11 ***** 426 535.27 4.29 ***** 427 554.3 4.45 ***** 428 563.55 4.64 ***** 429 564.42 2.77 ***** 430 431.3 3.41 ***** 431 522.2 5.05 ***** 432 489.4 4.14 ***** 433 578.44 2.82 ***** 434 467.18 4.11 ***** 435 444.3 3.95 ***** 436 477.4 3.93 ***** 437 543.4 3.92 ***** 438 500.1 4.35 ***** 439 361.2 5.95 ***** 440 536.43 3.95 ***** 441 482.1 5.11 **** 442 367.1 2.92 **** 443 436.2 5.25 **** 444 455.28 3.73 **** 445 478 3.67 **** 446 383.3 4.10 **** 447 464.9 5.11 **** 448 501.27 3.65 **** 449 482.24 2.62 **** 450 587 4.04 **** 451 644.3 [M − H] 4.80 **** 452 439.3 3.56 **** 453 553.1 6.13 **** 454 579.3 2.75 **** 455 583 3.84 **** 456 474.3 2.44 **** 457 455 3.4 **** 458 456.3 2.51 **** 459 470.3 2.61 **** 460 509.30 4.16 **** 461 454.3 5.98 **** 462 580.56 2.85 **** 463 495.44 4.13 **** 464 493.0 5.71 **** 465 507.4 3.98 **** 466 555.2 3.14 **** 467 524.2 4.02 **** 468 582.2 2.81 **** 469 525.2 5.07 **** 470 554.3 3.90 **** 471 620.18 3.85 **** 472 335.3 5.52 **** 473 495.3 4.68 *** 474 511.2 4.99 *** 475 483 3.87 *** 476 400 3.45 *** 477 249.1 3.67 *** 478 525.1 3.25 *** 479 538.3 2.76 *** 480 456.1 4.26 *** 481 549.3 5.29 *** 482 522.3 3.95 *** 483 470.1 4.46 *** 484 539.2 3.02 *** 485 398.9 4.18 *** 486 349.1 6.03 *** 487 505 3.66 *** 488 555.2 3.34 *** 489 538.3 4.15 *** 490 486.1 3.80 *** 491 537.31 2.64 *** 492 468 5.52 *** 493 504.3 2.68 *** 494 482.2 5.74 *** 495 403.3 4.16 *** 496 430.2 3.65 *** 497 281.0 3.84 *** 498 481.4 4.81 *** 499 423.3 5.15 *** 500 506.29 3.85 *** 501 534.3 2.68 *** 502 518.3 2.76 *** 503 508.2 5.72 *** 504 359.1 5.65 *** 505 442.0 4.06 *** 506 386.3 5.32 *** 507 450 3.19 *** 508 397.1 5.97 *** 509 511.4 5.05 *** 510 321.4 5.19 *** 511 383.1 5.75 *** 512 523.1 5.69 *** 513 361.1 5.12 *** 514 495.3 4.67 *** 515 363.5 6.34 ** 516 527.1 3.16 ** 517 464.2 5.86 ** 518 517.6 5.03 ** 519 527.2 3.88 ** 520 426.2 4.29 ** 521 509.4 4.99 ** 522 383.3 4.10 ** 523 439.0 6.11 ** 524 412.1 4.13 ** 525 4.95.3 3.46 ** 526 513.2 4.43 ** 527 535.3 4.94 ** 528 453.0 6.30 ** 529 481.3 3.43 ** 530 466.28 3.21 ** 531 549.6 5.21 ** 532 325.3 4.75 ** 533 506.2 4.96 ** 534 525.2 4.76 ** 535 541.2 3.51 ** 536 482.29 3.29 ** 537 476.3 2.51 ** 538 516.37 3.49 ** 539 337.3 [M − H] 2.14 ** 540 428.28 3.43 ** 541 525.2 4.42 ** 542 398.1 3.95 ** 543 466.34 3.29 ** 544 723.58 3.92 ***** 545 466.31 3.28 ** 546 426.3 2.26 ** 547 335.2 5.45 ** 548 516.37 3.46 ** 549 414 2.89 ** 550 496 4.58 ** 551 544.5 2.78 ** 552 511.3 3.56 ** 553 440.9 5.75 ** 554 482.32 3.41 ** 555 372 2.89 ** 556 456.1 4.21 ** 557 538.4 3.71 ** 558 497.2 4.69 ** 559 460.8 4.96 ** 560 596.3 4.45 * 561 509.2 5.18 * 562 525.3 3.52 * 563 483.1 4.96 * 564 432 2.18 * 565 276.9 4.00 * 566 384.4 1.73 * 567 511.4 4.71 * 568 295.0 4.14 * 569 480.21 3.50 ***** 570 549.22 4.59 ***** 571 497.13 3.50 ** 572 525.29 4.14 ***** 573 341.34 2.14 **** 574 427.37 2.23 * 575 437.33 3.16 ** 576 575.43 3.71 *** 577 453.28 3.34 *** 578 610.45 3.94 *** 579 481.32 3.51 ***** 580 495.29 3.64 ***** 581 465.43 3.64 * 582 516.34 3.31 * 583 512.26 3.39 *** 584 466.37 3.34 *** 585 516.33 3.46 *** 586 387.27 2.13 ***** 587 467.29 3.66 *** 588 455.26 3.69 *** 589 471.3 3.83 *** 590 495.31 3.64 **** 591 541.35 3.73 ***** 592 523.42 3.58 ***** 593 541.38 3.69 **** 594 505.38 3.83 *** 595 431.21 4.01 **** 596 431.24 3.99 ***** 597 445.24 4.19 ***** 598 459.24 4.36 ***** 599 513.17 4.19 **** 600 479.23 3.99 ***** 601 504.21 3.79 **** 602 493.2 4.18 **** 603 513.16 4.19 **** 604 446.18 2.86 * 605 503.23 3.84 ***** 606 461.19 3.46 *** 607 442.25 3.46 *** 608 489.2 3.72 *** 609 433.27 3.98 ** 610 n/d n/d **** 611 n/d n/d ** 612 491.23 3.56 *** 613 513.14 4.18 **** 614 463 3.88 ** 615 381 3.48 *** 616 540 4.17 ** 617 621.57 4.13 **** 618 493.6 2.63 ***** 619 521.6 2.80 ***** 620 445.5 3.23 **** 621 459.5 3.40 ***** 622 459.5 3.38 ***** 623 473.5 3.57 ***** 624 479.5 3.28 **** 625 507.6 3.53 ***** 626 493.6 3.48 **** 627 511.6 3.53 ***** 628 527.4 3.62 *** 629 527.5 3.72 ***** 630 573.5 3.75 ***** 631 507.6 3.65 ***** 632 538.6 3.53 **** 633 443.5 3.32 ***** 634 457.6 3.30 ***** 635 523.6 3.47 **** 636 463.6 3.12 ***** 637 621.62 2.77 ***** 638 580.56 2.80 ***** 639 496.54 3.28 ***** 640 552.64 2.48 **** 641 445.55 4.13 ***** 642 381.49 3.97 ***** 643 397.47 3.95 ***** 644 395.45 3.78 ***** 645 521.15 4.17 ***** 646 531.11 4.58 **** 647 505.18 4.7 ***** 648 437.19 4.15 **** 649 477.21 4.1 ***** 650 487.18 4.3 **** 651 548.3 2.53 **** 652 419.23 4.15 **** 653 449.24 4.12 **** 654 433.26 4.3 ***** 655 453.19 4.33 **** 656 444.17 4.02 ***** 657 464.22 4.08 ***** 658 461.6 4.30 ***** 659 489.7 4.78 ***** 660 543.7 4.92 ***** 661 459.5 3.63 ***** 662 471.5 3.87 ***** 663 491.6 3.63 ***** 664 507.6 3.80 ***** 665 485.6 3.85 **** 666 485.6 3.83 ***** 667 486.6 3.95 ***** 668 503.6 3.58 ***** 669 521.6 3.88 ***** 670 521.6 4.02 ***** 671 501.6 4.13 ***** 672 501.6 4.10 ***** 673 539.6 4.02 674 555.6 4.13 **** 675 555.6 4.22 **** 676 535.6 4.05 **** 677 535.6 4.15 **** 678 551.6 3.98 *** 679 487.6 3.93 **** 680 599.5 4.27 ***** 681 566.6 4.02 **** 682 496.5 2.13 ** 683 486.5 2.03 *** 684 484.6 2.67 *** 685 514.6 2.15 *** 686 512.6 2.12 **** 687 510.6 2.13 *** 688 525.6 1.85 *** 689 494.5 3.12 *** 690 524.6 2.32 *** 691 514.6 2.23 *** 692 512.6 2.35 *** 693 542.6 2.35 **** 694 540.6 2.27 **** 695 538.6 2.35 **** 696 553.6 2.07 *** 697 522.6 3.95 ***** 698 578.5 2.43 **** 699 568.5 2.35 **** 700 566.6 2.45 **** 701 596.6 2.47 **** 702 594.6 2.43 **** 703 592.6 2.48 **** 704 607.6 2.20 *** 705 575.5 2.47 **** 706 576.5 3.58 ***** 707 477.51 2.77 ***** 708 491.53 2.73 ***** 709 503.55 2.68 ***** 710 495.45 4.42 ***** 711 475.51 4.62 ***** 712 513.50 4.42 ***** 713 529.46 4.62 **** 714 509.51 4.43 ***** 715 482.46 4.28 ***** 716 457.47 4.05 **** 717 459.59 4.33 ***** 718 491.5 4.10 ***** 719 527.5 4.47 ***** 720 489.5 4.75 ***** 721 517.5 4.26 ***** 722 519.5 3.84 ***** 723 555.4 4.09 (non polar) ***** 724 541.54 2.90 ***** 725 478.47 3.58 ***** 726 516.5 2.67 ** 727 526.5 2.78 **** 728 544.5 2.80 *** 729 542.5 2.72 ***** 730 540.5 2.83 **** 731 555.6 2.43 *** 732 580.6 2.40 *** 733 523.5 2.78 ***** 734 524.5 3.40 ***** 735 552.5 2.98 ***** 736 562.5 3.15 ***** 737 580.6 3.17 **** 738 578.5 3.02 ***** 739 576.6 3.17 ***** 740 591.6 2.75 *** 741 616.5 2.62 *** 742 559.5 3.13 ***** 743 560.5 3.83 ***** 744 514.6 2.80 ***** 745 524.6 2.92 ***** 746 512.5 2.93 ***** 747 542.6 2.93 ***** 748 540.5 2.85 ***** 749 538.6 2.93 ***** 750 553.6 2.55 ***** 751 521.5 2.92 **** 752 522.5 3.87 ***** 753 542.6 2.98 **** 754 552.6 n/d ***** 755 540.6 3.17 **** 756 570.6 3.17 **** 757 568.6 3.07 ***** 758 566.6 3.17 *** 759 581.6 2.78 *** 760 549.6 3.13 ***** 761 550.5 4.17 ***** 762 544.5 2.68 **** 763 554.5 2.77 ***** 764 542.6 2.78 **** 765 572.5 2.75 **** 766 570.6 2.70 ***** 767 568.6 2.82 **** 768 583.6 2.47 **** 769 608.6 2.38 *** 770 551.5 2.73 ***** 771 552.5 3.65 ***** 772 580.5 3.03 ***** 773 590.6 3.12 ***** 774 578.5 3.12 **** 775 608.6 3.05 ***** 776 606.5 3.05 ***** 777 604.6 3.12 ***** 778 619.6 2.77 ***** 779 644.5 2.63 *** 780 587.5 3.10 ***** 781 588.5 4.05 ***** 782 596.5 3.10 ***** 783 606.5 3.18 ***** 784 594.5 3.27 ***** 785 624.5 3.22 ***** 786 622.5 3.12 ***** 787 620.5 3.20 ***** 788 635.6 2.85 **** 789 660.5 2.68 *** 790 603.5 3.22 ***** 791 604.5 4.25 ***** 792 480.50 2.98 ***** 793 494.50 2.97 **** 794 494.50 2.97 *** 795 496.48 2.97 **** 796 563.50 2.41 **** 797 522.48 2.50 ***** 798 538.48 2.92 ***** 799 535.49 2.35 *** 800 503.40 2.52 **** 801 504.43 3.42 ***** 802 504.42 3.37 ***** 803 579.48 2.42 **** 804 538.48 2.43 ***** 805 584.50 2.52 ***** 806 554.40 2.47 ***** 807 540.47 2.50 ***** 808 551.48 2.33 **** 809 516.45 2.47 ***** 810 520.40 3.21 ***** 811 520.40 3.12 ***** 812 466.4 3.27 ***** 813 466.4 3.18 ***** 814 465.4 2.38 ***** 815 465.4 3.45 ***** #816 497.4 2.70 ***** #817 511.4 2.62 ***** #818 491.4 2.43 **** 819 494.4 3.53 ***** 820 494.4 3.47 **** 821 493.4 2.55 **** 822 493.4 3.73 ***** #823 525.4 2.95 ***** #824 539.4 2.83 ***** #825 519.4 2.58 * 826 496.4 3.07 *** 827 496.4 2.98 **** 828 495.4 2.32 *** 829 495.4 3.28 *** #830 527.4 2.53 ***** #831 541.4 2.50 ***** #832 521.4 2.35 833 532.4 3.50 *** 834 532.4 3.42 **** 835 531.4 2.57 *** 836 531.4 3.67 **** #837 563.4 2.93 ***** #838 577.4 2.82 ***** 839 548.3 3.63 **** 840 548.3 3.58 **** #841 579.3 3.08 ***** #842 593.3 2.95 ***** #843 573.4 2.75 ***** 844 451.91 3.58 *** 845 648.48 4.45 *** 846 526.45 2.57 *** 847 568.37 3.40 **** 848 585.30 3.57 ***** 849 604.37 3.52 **** 850 540.39 2.60 *** 851 495.06 4.37 ***** 852 539.08 4.17 ***** 853 549.09 4.38 ***** 854 523.17 4.73 ***** 855 455.19 4.15 **** 856 495.18 4.10 ***** 857 505.16 4.30 ***** 858 566.3 2.57 ***** 859 437.22 4.15 ***** 860 467.2 4.13 ***** 861 451.12 4.10 **** 862 471.17 4.32 ***** 863 514.55 4.38 ***** 864 462.28 4.00 **** 865 482.13 4.08 **** 866 447.37 4.04 ***** 867 577.43 2.85 **** 868 477.14 4.37 ***** 869 504.53 3.62 ***** 870 493.55 2.80 ***** 871 489.54 2.72 ***** 872 493.55 2.80 ***** 873 503.54 2.73 ***** 874 479.2 2.74 ***** 875 425.52 4.27 ***** 876 492.52 3.57 ***** 877 489.54 2.72 ***** 878 508.55 3.82 ***** 879 507.55 2.90 ***** 880 459.49 4.24 ***** 881 471.45 4.22 ***** 882 542.51 3.87 ***** 883 494.50 3.67 ***** 884 544.27 2.79 ***** 885 490.54 3.54 ***** 886 494.57 3.68 ***** 887 521.62 2.93 ***** 888 558.54 3.70 ***** 889 545.55 2.93 ***** 890 490.49 3.48 ***** 891 528.49 3.69 ***** 892 546.50 3.75 ***** 893 461.49 4.36 ***** 894 580.47 2.72 ***** 895 491.51 2.77 ***** 896 576.49 4.00 ***** 897 504.51 3.52 ***** 898 457.53 4.25 ***** 899 481.37 4.17 ***** 900 541.55 3.00 ***** 901 575.54 2.98 ***** 902 471.49 4.12 ***** 903 621.39 2.72 ***** 904 596.54 2.85 ***** 905 542.54 3.78 ***** 906 489.53 4.82 ***** 907 514.47 3.54 ***** 908 582.43 2.79 ***** 909 514.21 2.75 ***** 910 539.45 3.97 ***** 911 527.54 2.88 ***** 912 530.53 2.67 ***** 913 626.6 2.88 ***** 914 514.55 2.60 ***** 915 509.56 4.63 ***** 916 626.40 2.82 ***** 917 561.46 2.95 ***** 918 642.56 2.85 ***** 919 543.45 4.82 ***** 920 557.57 2.87 ***** 921 527.39 4.52 ***** 922 561.53 2.85 ***** 923 612.51 2.92 ***** 924 498.20 2.71 ***** 925 596.54 2.88 ***** 926 5.62 3.85 ***** 927 540.65 4.25 ***** 928 510.52 3.10 ***** 929 506.46 2.95 ***** 930 500.48 2.83 ***** 931 467.39 4.17 ***** 932 548.49 3.17 ***** 933 596.37 2.79 ***** 934 561.53 2.95 ***** 935 496.54 3.37 ***** 936 582.6 2.83 ***** 937 555.61 2.55 ***** 938 582.53 2.85 ***** 939 560.63 2.68 ***** 940 541.43 2.45 ***** 941 562.55 3.63 ***** 942 623.35 2.73 **** 943 499 2.72 **** 944 525.56 4.36 **** 945 509.43 4.73 **** 946 566.53 2.77 **** 947 510 2.44 **** 948 482.47 2.88 **** 949 524.55 3.22 **** 950 506.46 2.87 **** 951 544.53 3.27 **** 952 530.53 3.12 **** 953 552.46 2.90 **** 954 403 4.11 **** 955 397 3.9 **** 956 484.55 2.42 **** 957 495.52 2.62 **** 958 542.36 3.84 **** 959 496.24 2.81 **** 960 639.57 2.70 **** 961 593.52 2.64 **** 962 516.59 2.65 **** 963 593.61 2.72 **** 964 598.55 2.83 **** 965 544.53 3.15 **** 966 564.45 3.32 **** 967 491.57 4.00 **** 968 512.51 2.73 **** 969 492.46 2.90 **** 970 609.54 2.72 **** 971 468.46 2.78 **** 972 496.47 3.02 **** 973 578.47 3.80 **** 974 528.34 3.79 *** 975 431.5 3.10 *** 976 564.46 3.23 *** 977 568.53 2.85 *** 978 578.45 3.30 *** 979 470.55 2.45 *** 980 527.61 2.50 *** 981 560.51 3.12 *** 982 425.60 3.78 *** 983 375.37 2.27 *** 984 5.06.19 3.97 ** 985 407.31 1.82 * 986 531.56 2.17 * 987 497.1 4.4 ***** 988 605.62 2.52 ***** 989 564.61 2.55 ***** 990 610.62 2.67 ***** 991 580.58 2.60 *** 992 566.61 2.60 *** 993 577.61 2.45 ***** 994 545.54 2.57 ***** 995 546.57 3.53 ***** 996 578.46 3.71 ***** # (S) Isomer prepared and tested. Wherein: 1 star, >1 uM (1000 nM) 2 stars, 0.2 to 1 uM (200 nM to 1000 nM) 3 stars, 0.04 uM to 0.2 uM (40 nM to 200 nM) 4 stars, 0.008 uM to 0.04 uM (8 nM to 40 nM) 5 stars, <0.008 uM (<8 nM)

Example 3 Compounds of the Invention Inhibit VEGF Expression and Tumor Growth, and Inhibit Angiogenesis, in an In Vivo Tumor Growth PD Model

Compounds of the invention also show activity in the following pharmacodynamic model that assesses tumor VEGF levels. Briefly, HT1080 cells (a human fibrosarcoma cell line) may be implanted subcutaneously in nude mice. After seven days, mice may be administrated compounds orally at a desired dosage range, e.g., 200 mg/kg/day, for seven days. The tumors may then be excised from mice, weighed and homogenized in Tris-HCl buffer containing proteinase inhibitors. Moulder et al., Cancer Res. 61(24):8887-95 (2001). Tumor VEGF levels are subsequently measured using a human VEGF ELISA kit (R&D System). Protein concentrations of the homogenates are measured with a Bio-Rad Protein assay kit and tumor VEGF levels are normalized to the protein concentrations.

Preferred compounds of the invention, when used for one week on a 100 mm³ tumor, will generally inhibit tumor growth by at least 50%, as compared to the vehicle-treated control groups. In similarly conducted experiments, compounds of the invention are shown to reduce lung cancer tumor growth (at a dosage of 3 mg/kg, twice a day, or 30 mg/kg, twice a day) (FIG. 2), Ewing's sarcoma and neuroblastoma tumor growth (at a dosage of 30 mg/kg, once a day) (FIG. 3), fibrosarcoma tumor growth (at a dosage of 10 mg/kg 3×/week) (FIG. 4), and human skin malignant melanoma (at a dosage of 10 mg/kg 5×/week) (FIG. 5) as compared to vehicle. Furthermore, the compounds of the invention are shown to reduce VEGF plasma and tumor levels in fibrosarcoma tumors as compared to vehicle (at a dosage of 10 mg/kg 3×/week) (FIG. 6). The compounds of the invention also inhibit tumor growth when administered together with other cancer agents, such as 5-FU (fluorouracil) in a colon cancer tumor (FIG. 7), taxol (paclitaxel) in a human cervical carcinoma (FIG. 8), and Avastin (bevacizumab) (FIG. 9). Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 10, the compounds of the invention also reduce tumor and plasma VEGF levels when administered together with another cancer agent (such as Avastin).

The tumors excised from the mice can also be used in immunochemistry experiments to determine levels of angiogenesis. As seen in FIG. 11, when antibodies to Collagen IV are used, angiogenesis is shown to be inhibited by the administration of a compound of the invention in Ewing's sarcoma (SK-NEP-1) and neuroblastoma (SY5Y and NGP) tumors. SK-NEP-1 cells were previously believed to be a useful Wilms tumor model. More recent genotyping, however, suggest that the cells, which may have characteristics of both transformed cell/tumor type, are useful as a Ewing's sarcoma model.

Example 4 Compounds of the Invention do not Affect VEGF mRNA Levels

Human solid tumor cells are treated with various concentrations of a compound of the present invention or a control under hypoxic conditions. Actinomycin D blocks transcription and is used as a control. Total RNA is isolated using the RNeasy kit (Qiagen, Inc., Valencia, Calif., USA) or an acid-guanidinium thiocyanate-phenol-chloroform based method (See Chomczynski, P. and Sacchi, N., Anal. Biochem. 162: 156 (1987), hereby incorporated by reference).

Concentration of total RNA can be determined using the RiboGreen® fluorescent dye (Molecular Probes, Inc., Eugene, Oreg., USA) with the VersaFluor Fluorometer System (BioRad, Hercules, Calif., USA). Quality and integrity of total RNA can be assessed on 1% formaldehyde-agarose gels. First-strand cDNA was synthesized using 1 μg of total RNA (DNase-treated) in a 20 μl reverse transcriptase reaction mixture (Leclerc G J, Barredo J C, Clin. Cancer Res. 2001, 7:942-951, which is hereby incorporated by reference). A region of the VEGF mRNA is amplified using PCR primers. The cDNA amplified fragment (approximately 300 basepairs) is cloned into a vector such as the pCR2.1-TOPO vector (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif., USA) to generate a plasmid. Serial ten-fold dilutions (104 to 109 molecules) of this plasmid are used as a reference molecule for standard curve calculation. All Real-Time PCR reactions are performed in a 25 μl mixture containing 1/20 volume of cDNA preparation (1 μl), 1×SYBR Green buffer (PE Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif., USA), 4 mM MgCl2, 0.2 μM of each VEGF primer used above, 0.2 mM dNTPs mix and 0.025 Unit of AmpliTaq Gold® thermostable DNA polymerase (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif., USA). Real-Time quantitations are performed using the BIO-RAD iCycler iQ system (BioRad, Hercules, Calif., USA). The fluorescence threshold value can be calculated using the iCycle iQ system software. Using similar methodologies, the data shown in FIG. 12 was obtained, and shows that a compound of the present invention does not affect VEGF mRNA levels

Example 5 Compounds of the Invention do not Affect the Activity of PDE5

The compounds of the invention are tested to assess their affect on phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) activity. The affect on PDE5 activity is determined using the High-Efficiency Fluorescence Polarization Assay (HEFP) kit from Molecular Devices. The HEFP assay measures the activity of PDE-5 by using fluorescein-labeled derivatives of cGMP as a substrate. When hydrolyzed by PDE-5, fluorescein-labeled cGMP derivatives are able to bind to a binding reagent. The cGMP substrate:binding reagent complex results in a highly polarized fluorescent state.

FIG. 13 shows the results of the compounds of the invention on PDE-5 activity. After combining recombinant PDE5 (CalBioChem) and the cGMP substrate, the mixture is incubated at room temperature for 45 minutes in the presence or absence of compounds or a positive control (Tadalafil). The reaction is stopped upon addition of the binding reagent. Fluorescence polarization is determined on a Viewlux using a setting recommended by the manufacturer. As is evident from FIG. 13, the compounds of the invention do not inhibit the activity of PDE-5 in comparison to the positive control.

Example 6 Effects on VEGF Production Induced by Hypoxia in Keratinocytes

Compounds of the invention reduce the hypoxia induced production of VEGF from keratinocytes. In the absence of one or more compounds of the invention, media from hypoxic keratinocytes cell culture has substantial concentrations of VEGF concentration (mean 1413, pg/mL). Treatment with a compound of the invention induces a dose-dependent reduction in VEGF concentrations in the media production, resulting in a maximal 57% decrease in the VEGF concentration (to a mean of 606 pg/mL). By contrast, media from normoxic cells has a relatively low concentrations of VEGF (mean 242 pg/mL) in the absence of a compound of the invention and showed only a 21% decrease in the concentration of VEGF found in the kerationcyte culture media concentrations (to a mean of 192 pg/mL) in the presence of a compound of the invention. No cytotoxicity was observed at any concentration tested.

All VEGF measurements are conducted by ELISA assay and the data is presented as the mean+/−the standard error (SE). See FIG. 14.

Example 7 Plasma Concentrations of VEGF and Compounds of the Invention in Healthy Human Subjects Following a Single Dose of Compound

Groups of normal healthy human volunteers (six per group) are administered a single oral dose (0.03, 0.10, 0.30, 1.00, or 3.00 mg/kg) of a compound of the invention. Two volunteers receive placebo. At the indicated times after administration samples of venous blood are withdrawn from the volunteers and the plasma concentration of the compound in each sample is determined using liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectroscopy (LC-MS/MS). Mean plasma concentrations of compound are plotted versus time along with the standard deviation of the values. See FIG. 15. Mean plasma concentrations of VEGF (FIG. 16, panel A) and the change in VEGF relative to baseline measurements (FIG. 16, panel B) are plotted versus time along with the standard error of the values for the 0.0 and 3.0 mg/kg groups.

Example 8 Plasma Concentrations of VEGF and Compounds of the Invention in Healthy Human Subjects with Dosing Twice Daily Over Multiple Days

Groups of normal healthy human volunteers (8 per group, 3 male and 3 female receiving drug, 1 placebo per gender at each dose level, 24 individuals total) are administered oral doses (0.03, 0.60, or 1.20 mg/kg) of a compound of the invention twice daily for seven days. Vital signs (including pulse and blood pressure) and samples for urinalysis are collected at baseline and repeatedly during the study. Samples of venous blood are withdrawn from the volunteers prior to administration of the first dose. Samples of venous blood are also withdrawn at multiple times on the first and seventh day, before the morning and evening doses on days two through six of the study, then at 6, 12, 24 and 36 hours after administration of the last dose of the compound, and once on days 14 and 21 of the study. The plasma concentration of the compound in each sample is determined using liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectroscopy (LC-MS/MS). While side effects including headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting and stomach discomfort are observed, no serious, dose limiting, or definitive drug-related events, such as the development of hypertension or proteinuria are observed. All side effects are reversible and there is no correlation of any side effect with dose. Mean plasma concentrations of compound are plotted versus time along with the standard deviation of the values for study days 1 and 7. See FIG. 17. The mean plasma and serum VEGF levels, along with the standard deviations, on days 1 and 7 are plotted vs. time at each does level. See FIG. 18. Vital sign and urinalysis data indicate the compounds of the invention do not give rise to hypertension or proteinuria (data not shown).

Example 9 Plasma Concentrations Over Multiple Days with Dosing Thrice Daily

Groups of normal healthy human volunteers (eight per group) are administered oral doses of 1.6 mg/kg of a compound of the invention three times daily for seven days. Samples of venous blood are withdrawn from the volunteers prior to administration of the first dose. Samples of venous blood are withdrawn at multiple times on the first and seventh day, before the morning and evening doses on days two through six of the study, at 6, 12, 24, and 36 hours after administration of the last dose of the compound and once on days 14 and 21 of the study. The plasma and/or serum concentration of the compound in each sample is determined using liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectroscopy (LC-MS/MS). While side effects including headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting and stomach discomfort are observed, no serious, dose limiting, or definitive drug-related events, such as the development of hypertension or proteinuria are observed. In addition, no bleeding, clotting, hypertension or proteinuria are observed. All side effects are reversible and there is no correlation of any side effect with dose. Mean plasma compound concentrations are plotted versus time along with the standard deviation of the values. See FIG. 19. The mean plasma and serum VEGF levels, along with the standard deviations, on days 1 and 7 are plotted vs. time are plotted. See FIG. 18, the lines labeled 1.6 mg/kg TID (n=6).

The discussion above provides illustrative features and embodiments of the present invention, but the invention is not limited to the particular features and embodiments disclosed. Those skilled in the relevant arts will readily appreciate that variations to the disclosed features and embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, one or more of the disclosed features or embodiments may be combined with one or more other features or embodiments.

All publications and patent applications cited herein are incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. 

1. A method for reducing VEGF production resulting from pathological events without reducing plasma VEGF levels below normal physiological levels, comprising administering to a subject in need of reducing VEGF production either a therapeutically effective amount of one or more compounds of Formula (I) or one or more pharmaceutically acceptable salts, hydrates, solvates, clathrates, polymorphs, racemates or stereoisomers of said one or more compounds, or a pharmaceutical composition comprising one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients and one or more compounds of Formula (I) or one or more pharmaceutically acceptable salts, hydrates, solvates, clathrates, polymorphs, racemates or stereoisomers of said one or more compounds of Formula (I), said one or more compounds of Formula (I) having the structure

wherein X is hydrogen; a C₁ to C₆ alkyl, optionally substituted with one or more halogens; a hydroxyl group; a halogen; a C₁ to C₅ alkoxy, optionally substituted with a C₆ to C₁₀ aryl group; A is C or N; B is C or N, with the proviso that at least one of A or B is N, and that when A is N, B is C; R₁ is a hydroxyl group; a C₁ to C₈ alkyl group, optionally substituted with an alkylthio group, a 5 to 10 membered heteroaryl, a C₆ to C₁₀ aryl group optionally substituted with at least one independently selected R_(o) group; a C₂ to C₈ alkenyl group; a C₂ to C₈ alkynyl group; a 3 to 12 membered heterocycle group, wherein the heterocycle group is optionally substituted with at least one independently selected halogen, oxo, amino, alkylamino, acetamino, thio, or alkylthio group; a 5 to 12 membered heteroaryl group, wherein the heteroaryl group is optionally substituted with at least one independently selected halogen, oxo, amino, alkylamino, acetamino, thio, or alkylthio group; or a C₆ to C₁₀ aryl group, optionally substituted with at least one independently selected R_(o) group; R_(o) is a halogen; a cyano; a nitro; a sulfonyl, wherein the sulfonyl is optionally substituted with a C₁ to C₆ alkyl or a 3 to 10 membered heterocycle; an amino group, wherein the amino group is optionally substituted with a C₁ to C₆ alkyl, —C(O)—R_(b), —C(O)O—R_(b), a sulfonyl, an alkylsulfonyl, a 3 to 10 membered heterocycle group optionally substituted with a —C(O)O—R_(n); —C(O)—NH—R_(b); a 5 to 6 membered heterocycle; a 5 to 6 membered heteroaryl; a C₁ to C₆ alkyl group, wherein the alkyl group is optionally substituted with at least one independently selected hydroxyl, halogen, amino, or 3 to 12 membered heterocycle group, wherein the amino group and heterocycle group are optionally substituted with at least one independently selected C₁ to C₄ alkyl group, which C₁ to C₄ alkyl group is optionally substituted with at least one independently selected C₁ to C₄ alkoxy group, amino group, alkylamino group, or 5 to 10 membered heterocycle group; a —C(O)—R_(n) group; or an —OR_(a) group; R_(a) is hydrogen; C₂ to C₈ alkenyl; a —C(O)O—R_(b) group; a —C(O)—NH—R_(b); a C₁ to C₈ alkyl, wherein the alkyl group is optionally substituted with at least one independently selected hydroxyl, halogen, C₁ to C₄ alkoxy, amino, alkylamino, acetamide, —C(O)—R_(b), —C(O)O—R_(b), C₆ to C₁₀ aryl, 3 to 12 membered heterocycle, or 5 to 12 heteroaryl group, further wherein the alkylamino is optionally substituted with a hydroxyl, a C₁ to C₄ alkoxy, or a 5 to 12 membered heteroaryl optionally substituted with a C₁ to C₄ alkyl, further wherein the acetamide is optionally substituted with a C₁ to C₄ alkoxy, sulfonyl, or alkylsulfonyl, further wherein and the heterocycle group is optionally substituted with a C₁ to C₄ alkyl optionally substituted with a hydroxyl group, —C(O)—R_(n), —C(O)O—R_(n), or an oxo group; R_(b) is hydroxyl; an amino; an alkylamino, wherein the alkylamino is optionally substituted with a hydroxyl, an amino, an alkylamino, a C₁ to C₄ alkoxy, a 3 to 12 membered heterocycle optionally substituted with at least one independently selected C₁ to C₆ alkyl, oxo, —C(O)O—R_(n), or a 5 to 12 membered heteroaryl optionally substituted with a C₁ to C₄ alkyl; a C₁ to C₄ alkoxy; a C₂ to C₈ alkenyl; a C₂ to C₈ alkynyl; a C₆ to C₁₀ aryl, wherein the aryl is optionally substituted with at least one independently selected halogen or C₁ to C₄ alkoxy; a 5 to 12 membered heteroaryl; 3 to 12 membered heterocycle group, wherein the heterocycle is optionally substituted with at least one independently selected acetamide, —C(O)O—R_(n), 5 to 6 membered heterocycle, or C₁ to C₆ alkyl optionally substituted with a hydroxyl, C₁ to C₄ alkoxy, amino group, or alkylamino group; or a C₁ to C₈ alkyl, wherein the alkyl is optionally substituted with at least one independently selected C₁ to C₄ alkoxy, C₆ to C₁₀ aryl, amino, or 3 to 12 membered heterocycle group, wherein the amino and heterocycle groups are optionally substituted with at least one independently selected C₁ to C₆ alkyl, oxo, or —C(O)O—R_(n) group; R₂ is a hydrogen; a hydroxyl; a 5 to 10 membered heteroaryl group; a C₁ to C₈ alkyl group, wherein the alkyl group is optionally substituted with a hydroxyl, a C₁ to C₄ alkoxy, a 3 to 10 membered heterocycle, a 5 to 10 membered heteroaryl, or C₆ to C₁₀ aryl group; a —C(O)—R_(c) group; a —C(O)O—R_(d) group; a —C(O)—N(R_(d)R_(d)) group; a —C(S)—N(R_(d)R_(d)) group; a —C(S)—O—R_(e) group; a —S(O₂)—R_(e) group; a —C(NR_(e))—S—R_(e) group; or a —C(S)—S—R_(f) group; R_(c) is hydrogen; an amino, wherein the amino is optionally substituted with at least one independently selected C₁ to C₆ alkyl or C₆ to C₁₀ aryl group; a C₆ to C₁₀ aryl, wherein the aryl is optionally substituted with at least one independently selected halogen, haloalkyl, hydroxyl, C₁ to C₄ alkoxy, or C₁ to C₆ alkyl group; —C(O)—R_(n); a 5 to 6 membered heterocycle, wherein the heterocycle is optionally substituted with a —C(O)—R_(n) group; a 5 to 6 membered heteroaryl; a thiazoleamino group; a C₁ to C₈ alkyl group, wherein the alkyl group is optionally substituted with at least one independently selected halogen, a C₁ to C₄ alkoxy, a phenyloxy, a C₆ to C₁₀ aryl, —C(O)—R_(n), —O—C(O)—R_(n), hydroxyl, or amino group, optionally substituted with a —C(O)O—R_(n) group; R_(d) is independently hydrogen; a C₂ to C₈ alkenyl group; a C₂ to C₈ alkynyl group; a C₆ to C₁₀ aryl group, wherein the aryl is optionally substituted with at least one independently selected halogen, nitro, C₁ to C₆ alkyl, —C(O)O—R_(e), or —OR_(e); or a C₁ to C₈ alkyl group, wherein the alkyl group is optionally substituted with at least one independently selected halogen, C₁ to C₄ alkyl, C₁ to C₄ alkoxy, phenyloxy, C₆ to C₁₀ aryl, 5 to 6 membered heteroaryl, —C(O)—R_(n), —O—C(O)—R_(n), or hydroxyl group, wherein the C₆ to C₁₀ aryl group is optionally substituted with at least one independently selected halogen or haloalkyl group; R_(e) is a hydrogen; a C₁ to C₆ alkyl group, wherein the alkyl group is optionally substituted with at least one independently selected halogen or alkoxy group; or a C₆ to C₁₀ aryl group, wherein the aryl group is optionally substituted with at least one independently selected halogen or alkoxy group; R_(f) is a C₁ to C₆ alkyl group, optionally substituted with at least one independently selected halogen, hydroxyl, C₁ to C₄ alkoxy, cyano, C₆ to C₁₀ aryl, or —C(O)—R_(n) group, wherein the alkoxy group may be optionally substituted with at least one C₁ to C₄ alkoxy group and the aryl group may be optionally substituted with at least one independently selected halogen, hydroxyl, C₁ to C₄ alkoxy, cyano, or C₁ to C₆ alkyl group; R_(n) is a hydroxyl, C₁ to C₄ alkoxy, amino, or C₁ to C₆ alkyl group; R₃ is hydrogen or —C(O)—R_(g); R_(g) is a hydroxyl group; an amino group, wherein the amino is optionally substituted with a C₆ to C₁₀ cycloalkyl group or a 5 to 10 membered heteroaryl group; or a 5 to 10 membered heterocycle group, wherein the heterocycle group is optionally substituted with a —C(O)—R_(n) group; and n is 0, 1, 2, or
 3. 2. The method of claim 1 wherein said pathogenic event is hypoxia or tumorogenic transformation.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein said subject in need of reducing VEGF production is in need of: (a) treating a solid tumor cancer, (b) slowing tumorigenesis of a solid tumor at a pre-vascular stage, (c) inhibiting VEGF mRNA translation, (d) reducing solid tumor VEGF levels, (e) reducing plasma or serum VEGF levels, (f) reducing perivascularly sequestered VEGF, or (g) inhibiting angiogenesis.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the lower limit of said normal physiological levels is about 15 pg/ml.
 5. The method of claim 1 wherein the lower limit of said normal physiological levels is about 20 pg/ml.
 6. The method of claim 1 wherein the lower limit of said normal physiological levels is about 25 pg/ml.
 7. The method of claim 1 wherein the lower limit of said normal physiological level is about 25 pg/ml.
 8. The method of claim 1, where in said one or more compounds of Formula (I) or said pharmaceutical composition, comprises one or more compounds of Formula (II), Formula (III), Formula (IV), or one or more compounds of any of Formulas (I-a) through (I-l), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts, hydrates, solvates, clathrates, polymorphs, racemates or stereoisomers thereof.
 9. The method of claim 1, where in said one or more compounds of Formula (I) or said one or more pharmaceutical composition, comprise one or more compounds selected from compounds 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 17, 23, 25, 81, 102, 112, 140, 328, 329, 330, 331, 332, 355, 816, 817, 818, 823, 824, 825, 830, 831, 832, 837, 838, 841, 842, 843, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts, hydrates, solvates, clathrates, polymorphs, racemates or stereoisomers thereof.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein said treatment does result in hypertension, grade 1 proteinuria, or an increase in the grade of proteinuria experienced by a subject.
 11. A method for: (a) treating a solid tumor cancer, (b) slowing tumorigenesis of a solid tumor at a pre-vascular stage, (c) inhibiting VEGF mRNA translation, (d) reducing solid tumor VEGF levels, (e) reducing plasma or serum VEGF levels, (f) reducing perivascularly sequestered VEGF, or (g) inhibiting angiogenesis; wherein said method does not reduce plasma VEGF below normal physiological levels; said method comprising administering to said subject a therapeutically effective amount of one or more compounds of Formula (I), or one or more pharmaceutically acceptable salts, hydrates, solvates, clathrates, polymorphs, racemates or stereoisomers of said one or more compounds of Formula (I), said compounds of Formula (I) having the structure

wherein X is hydrogen; a C₁ to C₆ alkyl, optionally substituted with one or more halogens; a hydroxyl group; a halogen; a C₁ to C₅ alkoxy, optionally substituted with a C₆ to C₁₀ aryl group; A is C or N; B is C or N, with the proviso that at least one of A or B is N, and that when A is N, B is C; R₁ is a hydroxyl group; a C₁ to C₈ alkyl group, optionally substituted with an alkylthio group, a 5 to 10 membered heteroaryl, a C₆ to C₁₀ aryl group optionally substituted with at least one independently selected R_(o) group; a C₂ to C₈ alkenyl group; a C₂ to C₈ alkynyl group; a 3 to 12 membered heterocycle group, wherein the heterocycle group is optionally substituted with at least one independently selected halogen, oxo, amino, alkylamino, acetamino, thio, or alkylthio group; a 5 to 12 membered heteroaryl group, wherein the heteroaryl group is optionally substituted with at least one independently selected halogen, oxo, amino, alkylamino, acetamino, thio, or alkylthio group; or a C₆ to C₁₀ aryl group, optionally substituted with at least one independently selected R_(o) group; R_(o) is a halogen; a cyano; a nitro; a sulfonyl, wherein the sulfonyl is optionally substituted with a C₁ to C₆ alkyl or a 3 to 10 membered heterocycle; an amino group, wherein the amino group is optionally substituted with a C₁ to C₆ alkyl, —C(O)—R_(b), —C(O)O—R_(b), a sulfonyl, an alkylsulfonyl, a 3 to 10 membered heterocycle group optionally substituted with a —C(O)O—R_(n); —C(O)—NH—R_(b); a 5 to 6 membered heterocycle; a 5 to 6 membered heteroaryl; a C₁ to C₆ alkyl group, wherein the alkyl group is optionally substituted with at least one independently selected hydroxyl, halogen, amino, or 3 to 12 membered heterocycle group, wherein the amino group and heterocycle group are optionally substituted with at least one independently selected C₁ to C₄ alkyl group, which C₁ to C₄ alkyl group is optionally substituted with at least one independently selected C₁ to C₄ alkoxy group, amino group, alkylamino group, or 5 to 10 membered heterocycle group; a —C(O)—R_(n) group; or an —OR_(a) group; R_(a) is hydrogen; C₂ to C₈ alkenyl; a —C(O)O—R_(b) group; a —C(O)—NH—R_(b); a C₁ to C₈ alkyl, wherein the alkyl group is optionally substituted with at least one independently selected hydroxyl, halogen, C₁ to C₄ alkoxy, amino, alkylamino, acetamide, —C(O)—R_(b), —C(O)O—R_(b), C₆ to C₁₀ aryl, 3 to 12 membered heterocycle, or 5 to 12 heteroaryl group, further wherein the alkylamino is optionally substituted with a hydroxyl, a C₁ to C₄ alkoxy, or a 5 to 12 membered heteroaryl optionally substituted with a C₁ to C₄ alkyl, further wherein the acetamide is optionally substituted with a C₁ to C₄ alkoxy, sulfonyl, or alkylsulfonyl, further wherein and the heterocycle group is optionally substituted with a C₁ to C₄ alkyl optionally substituted with a hydroxyl group, —C(O)—R_(n), —C(O)O—R_(n), or an oxo group; R_(b) is hydroxyl; an amino; an alkylamino, wherein the alkylamino is optionally substituted with a hydroxyl, an amino, an alkylamino, a C₁ to C₄ alkoxy, a 3 to 12 membered heterocycle optionally substituted with at least one independently selected C₁ to C₆ alkyl, oxo, —C(O)O—R_(n), or a 5 to 12 membered heteroaryl optionally substituted with a C₁ to C₄ alkyl; a C₁ to C₄ alkoxy; a C₂ to C₈ alkenyl; a C₂ to C₈ alkynyl; a C₆ to C₁₀ aryl, wherein the aryl is optionally substituted with at least one independently selected halogen or C₁ to C₄ alkoxy; a 5 to 12 membered heteroaryl; 3 to 12 membered heterocycle group, wherein the heterocycle is optionally substituted with at least one independently selected acetamide, —C(O)O—R_(n), 5 to 6 membered heterocycle, or C₁ to C₆ alkyl optionally substituted with a hydroxyl, C₁ to C₄ alkoxy, amino group, or alkylamino group; or a C₁ to C₈ alkyl, wherein the alkyl is optionally substituted with at least one independently selected C₁ to C₄ alkoxy, C₆ to C₁₀ aryl, amino, or 3 to 12 membered heterocycle group, wherein the amino and heterocycle groups are optionally substituted with at least one independently selected C₁ to C₆ alkyl, oxo, or —C(O)O—R_(n) group; R₂ is a hydrogen; a hydroxyl; a 5 to 10 membered heteroaryl group; a C₁ to C₈ alkyl group, wherein the alkyl group is optionally substituted with a hydroxyl, a C₁ to C₄ alkoxy, a 3 to 10 membered heterocycle, a 5 to 10 membered heteroaryl, or C₆ to C₁₀ aryl group; a —C(O)—R_(c) group; a —C(O)O—R_(d) group; a —C(O)—N(R_(d)R_(d)) group; a —C(S)—N(R_(d)R_(d)) group; a —C(S)—O—R_(e), group; a —S(O₂)—R_(e), group; a —C(NR_(e))—S—R_(e) group; or a —C(S)—S—R_(f) group; R_(c) is hydrogen; an amino, wherein the amino is optionally substituted with at least one independently selected C₁ to C₆ alkyl or C₆ to C₁₀ aryl group; a C₆ to C₁₀ aryl, wherein the aryl is optionally substituted with at least one independently selected halogen, haloalkyl, hydroxyl, C₁ to C₄ alkoxy, or C₁ to C₆ alkyl group; —C(O)—R_(n); a 5 to 6 membered heterocycle, wherein the heterocycle is optionally substituted with a —C(O)—R_(n) group; a 5 to 6 membered heteroaryl; a thiazoleamino group; a C₁ to C₈ alkyl group, wherein the alkyl group is optionally substituted with at least one independently selected halogen, a C₁ to C₄ alkoxy, a phenyloxy, a C₆ to C₁₀ aryl, —C(O)—R_(n), —O—C(O)—R_(n), hydroxyl, or amino group, optionally substituted with a —C(O)O—R_(n) group; R_(d) is independently hydrogen; a C₂ to C₈ alkenyl group; a C₂ to C₈ alkynyl group; a C₆ to C₁₀ aryl group, wherein the aryl is optionally substituted with at least one independently selected halogen, nitro, C₁ to C₆ alkyl, —C(O)O—R_(e), or —OR_(e); or a C₁ to C₈ alkyl group, wherein the alkyl group is optionally substituted with at least one independently selected halogen, C₁ to C₄ alkyl, C₁ to C₄ alkoxy, phenyloxy, C₆ to C₁₀ aryl, 5 to 6 membered heteroaryl, —C(O)—R_(n), —O—C(O)—R_(n), or hydroxyl group, wherein the C₆ to C₁₀ aryl group is optionally substituted with at least one independently selected halogen or haloalkyl group; R_(e) is a hydrogen; a C₁ to C₆ alkyl group, wherein the alkyl group is optionally substituted with at least one independently selected halogen or alkoxy group; or a C₆ to C₁₀ aryl group, wherein the aryl group is optionally substituted with at least one independently selected halogen or alkoxy group; R_(f) is a C₁ to C₆ alkyl group, optionally substituted with at least one independently selected halogen, hydroxyl, C₁ to C₄ alkoxy, cyano, C₆ to C₁₀ aryl, or —C(O)—R_(n) group, wherein the alkoxy group may be optionally substituted with at least one C₁ to C₄ alkoxy group and the aryl group may be optionally substituted with at least one independently selected halogen, hydroxyl, C₁ to C₄ alkoxy, cyano, or C₁ to C₆ alkyl group; R_(n) is a hydroxyl, C₁ to C₄ alkoxy, amino, or C₁ to C₆ alkyl group; R₃ is hydrogen or —C(O)—R_(g); R_(g) is a hydroxyl group; an amino group, wherein the amino is optionally substituted with a C₆ to C₁₀ cycloalkyl group or a 5 to 10 membered heteroaryl group; or a 5 to 10 membered heterocycle group, wherein the heterocycle group is optionally substituted with a —C(O)—R_(n) group; and n is 0, 1, 2, or
 3. 12. The method of claim 11 wherein the lower limit of said normal physiological levels is about 15 pg/ml.
 13. The method of claim 11 wherein the lower limit of said normal physiological levels is about 20 pg/ml.
 14. The method of claim 11 wherein the lower limit of said normal physiological levels is about 25 pg/ml.
 15. The method of claim 11 wherein the lower limit of said normal physiological level is about 25 pg/ml.
 16. The method of claim 11, where in said one or more compounds of Formula (I) or said pharmaceutical composition, comprises one or more compounds of Formula (II), Formula (III), Formula (IV), or one or more compounds of any of Formulas (I-a) through (I-l), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts, hydrates, solvates, clathrates, polymorphs, racemates or stereoisomers thereof.
 17. The method of claim 11, where in said one or more compounds of Formula (I) or said one or more pharmaceutical composition, comprise one or more compounds selected from compounds 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 17, 23, 25, 81, 102, 112, 140, 328, 329, 330, 331, 332, 355, 816, 817, 818, 823, 824, 825, 830, 831, 832, 837, 838, 841, 842, 843, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts, hydrates, solvates, clathrates, polymorphs, racemates or stereoisomers thereof.
 18. The method of claim 11, wherein said treatment does result in hypertension, grade 1 proteinuria, or an increase in the grade of proteinuria experienced by a subject. 